Since the late 1940s, the big band was at the core of John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie’s musical vision. Before leading his own group of brilliant and exuberant virtuosos from 1945 onward, he had already earned a reputation in the previous decade as one of the most powerful swing innovators of his time. Dizzy’s big band quickly became one of the most fashionable orchestras of the era and, between 1947 and 1948, grew into a true breeding ground for Afro-Cuban jazz. With passion and fire, Gillespie shaped a repertoire filled with enduring and influential compositions.

The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band revives that spirit, reminding us that this music remains timeless. This 2007 ensemble, led by bassist and musical director John Lee, a longtime collaborator of Dizzy, performed at Geneva’s Victoria Hall in a concert now preserved on record. The lineup features former Gillespie partners such as trombonist and conductor Slide Hampton, Brazilian trumpeter Claudio Roditi, and the legendary saxophonist James Moody, who first joined Dizzy’s big band back in 1946.