Dizzy Gillespie was an accomplished vocalist and scat artist, with an incredible vocal range and ear for the primal sounds of Africa and the music of Calypso from the West Indies. John Birks, or Dizzy Gillespie as we best know him, was most famous for his Be-Bop and Afro-Cuban jazz style of trumpet play. He also had a mischievous sense of humor, which he always displayed in his live appearances. No one who really knew Diz doubted the seriousness with which he approached his craft. His philosophy was one in which a deep love of jazz and enjoyment of it were not incompatible with a high level of skill and play.

Where’s Adam? – Dizzy’s Diamonds, Verve Records (1950-1964)

Jambo – Dizzy’s Diamond, Verve Records (1950-1964)

Umbrella Man – Dizzy’s Diamond, Verve Records (1950-1964)

Umbrella Man – Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong (1959)

Ool Ya Koo – Dizzy Gillespie, Gil Fuller, Dizzy’s Diamond, Verve Records (1950-1964)

Scat, mouth harp, jaw harp, live Jazz, Jazz at Lincoln Center 1980, Dizzy Gillespie and Jon Hendricks

Dizzy Gillespie, Jame Moody, Jon Hendricks – Ooo Pa Pa Da (Live, Wolf Trap Tribute to Dizzy 1988)

Ooo pa pa da – Dizzy Gillespie and George Benson (1975)

Oop Bop Sh’bam – Dizzy Gillespie

My daughter’s childhood favorite: Dizzy Gillespie Quartet – Salt Peanuts (Mayport, All That Jazz 1982) a master class for the audience

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaN-Hbm1Zoo

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