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Slide Hampton Known as one of the most important trombonists of all times, Slide worked frequently with Dizzy from 1963-1990, and was a founding member of Dizzy's United Nation Orchestra. He is also the director of the "Jazzmasters Big Band". Slide is equally renowned for his arranging skills, and is considered to be one of the finest arrangers in jazz today. His numerous credits include Dexter Gordon and Maynard Ferguson. Full Bio & Photo |
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James Moody No one musician spent more time with Dizzy Gillespie than James Moody. He first appeared with Dizzy's big band in 1947 and continued to perform with him untill 1992. Aside from being one of the premier saxophonists in jazz, his flute playing is legendary. He is world renowned for his masterpiece of jazz improvision "Moody's Mood for Love". Dizzy once said, "Playing with James Moody is like playing with a continuation of myself". Full Bio & Photo |
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Jimmy Heath has long been recognized as a brilliant instrumentalist and a magnificent composer and arranger. He has performed with nearly all the jazz greats of the last 50 years, from Howard McGhee, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis to Wynton Marsalis. Full Bio & Photo |
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Paquito D`Rivera Born in Havana, Paquito is regarded by many as the most creative Cuban jazz musician in exile. He is also considered one of the finest clarinetists in the world. First heard with the band Irakere, he has released over sixteen CDs as a leader. Paquito was a founding member of Dizzy's United Nation Orchestra. In 1997 Paquito's "Portraits of Cuba" received a Grammy award for best Latin Jazz CD. Full Bio & Photo |
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Clark Terry One of contemporary music's most famous innovators, is justly celebrated for his great technical virtuosity, swinging lyricism and good taste. He is a master story-teller whose spellbinding musical "tales" leave audiences thrilled and always wanting more. His astonishing career included stints with Charlie Barnet, Charlie Ventura, Eddie vinson, Count Basie, The Tonight Show and eight years as a featured soloist with Duke Ellington. Full Bio & Photo |
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Roy Hargrove was born in Dallas, Texas, and was discovered as a potential jazz talent when Wynton Marsalis visited his high school. One of his biggest influences was saxophone player David "Fathead" Newman, who played with the Ray Charles Band at Hargrove's junior high school. Full Bio |
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Jon Faddis Regarded by many to be the greatest trumpet player in jazz today, Jon has appeared with Charles Mingus, Frank Sinatra, Lionel Hampton, Oscar Peterson, McCoy Tyner, and Sarah Vaughan, among others. His close relationship with Dizzy included serving as musical director of Dizzy's 70th Anniversary Big Band and the original United Nation Orchestra. As the director of the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, Jon continues Dizzy's legacy of innovation as a composer, educator and musician. Full Bio & Photo |
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Randy Brecker One of the leading trumpeters in jazz for over two decades, Randy's musical history is a varied and rich one. From associations with Art Blakey, Charles Mingus, and Joe Henderson, to his first call studio career in which he has recorded countless discs, to the fusion of Larry Coryell, Blood, Sweat, & Tears, and Dreams, to the Brecker Brothers Band (which he co-leads with his brother Michael), Randy continues to collaborate widely while extending his impressive solo career. He has recorded over ten albums as a leader Full Bio & Photo |
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Claudio Roditi Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Claudio came to the United States to study jazz at the Berklee College of Music where he later joined the faculty of the School of Contemporary Music. He was a member of Dizzy's United Nation Orchestra and has played and recorded with the likes of McCoy Tyner, Tito Puente, Paquito D`Rivera, Slide Hampton and Herbie Mann, among others. As a leader Claudio has released over fifteen CDs. Full Bio & Photo |
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Bobby Watson Trained formally at the University of Miami and then earned his “doctorate” as musical director of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, the ultimate “postgraduate school” for ambitious young players. Along the way, he worked with such notable jazz artists as Max Roach, Louis Hayes, George Coleman, Sam Rivers and Wynton and Branford Marsalis, as well as vocalists Joe Williams, Dianne Reeves, Lou Rawls, Betty Carter, and Carmen Lundy. Full Bio & Photo |
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Benny Green Born A student at Berkeley High School in the early ‘80s, Benny paid his dues with the bands of Art Blakey, Betty Carter and Freddie Hubbard from 1983 to 1990. In 1992, he joined Ray Brown’s trio, and his reputation spread as he became a vital member of that group. In 1993, Oscar Peterson bestowed upon Green the Protégé Prize, and he later teamed up with Peterson on Telarc’s Oscar and Benny (CD-83406) in 1998. Now based in New York, Green travels widely as the leader of his own trio. Full Bio & Photo |
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Renee Rosnes Born in Canada, Rosnes moved to New York in 1985 and has played and/or recorded with a wide variety of artists including Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, J.J. Johnson, Jon Faddis, James Moody, the group Out of the Blue, Gary Thomas and Robin Eubanks. In addition, Renee Rosnes has recorded several excellent sessions for Blue Note as a leader. Full Bio & Photo |
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Cyrus Chestnut One of the great new voices on piano, Cyrus worked in the bands of Wynton Marsalis, Jon Hendricks, Betty Carter, and Terence Blanchard/Donald Harrison before launching his own solo career. Cyrus toured Japan with Dizzy in 1990, and has released four solo albums for Atlantic Jazz since 1994. Aside from leading his own trio, Cyrus often works with the opera star, Kathleen Battle. Full Bio & Photo |
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Kenny Barron Over the last three decades, Kenny has become one of the most sought after jazz pianists around. Aside from the four years he spent with the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet he has also worked and recorded with the bands of James Moody, Lee Morgan, Roy Haynes, Stanley Turrentine, Freddie Hubbard,Yusef Lateef, Stan Getz, Sonny Stitt, Buddy Rich and Ron Carter. He is currently a full professor with tenure at Rutgers University. |
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John Lee From 1984 to 1992, John served as Dizzy's bassist, playing in the small groups, Dizzy's 70th Anniversary Big Band and the United Nation Orchestra. A composer, producer and teacher, John has played in the bands of Sonny Rollins, Max Roach, McCoy Tyner, Larry Coryell, Joe Henderson, and is currently a member of the Fantasy Band. Other credits include appearances with Gil Evans, Jon Faddis, Jimmy Heath, Fredie Hubbard and Claudio Roditi. Full Bio & Photo |
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Ignacio Berroa A graduate of Havana's National Conservatory of Music, Ignacio was Cuba's most famous drummer before moving to New York in 1980. He was a member of Dizzy's quartet from 1981 to 1983 and rejoined the quintet, Dizzy's 70th Annivesary Big Band and the United Nation Orchestra in 1987. McCoy Tyner, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Tito Puente, Eliane Elias, Michel Camilo and James Moody are among his numerous credits. Full Bio & Photo |
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Dennis Mackrel In 1981, at 19 years of age, Dennis moved to New York City and landed a gig as the drummer in a New York Broadway orchestra. His Broadway credits include "The First" and "A Chorus Line". During January of 1983, Dennis joined The Count Basie Orchestra on the personal recommendation of Joe Williams and worked alongside Mr. Basie until his death in April, 1984. Full Bio & Photo |
