Birk's Works

There is not much I can say about Dizzy Gillespie that has not been said before. Simply a true giant of jazz and probably the greatest ambassador this music has ever known. Heavily influenced by his idol, Roy Eldridge, Dizzy made his mark during his brief tenure in Cab Calloway’s orchestra. Calloway, however was not too fond of Dizzy and his approach to soloing. As a result of their strained relationship(and Diz using a knife to cut Calloway), Dizzy left the band. Soon after, Dizzy was experimenting with Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker. Together they developed music that incorporated complex chord structures, complex progressions, and progressive soloing techniques. This style of music would eventually come to be known as Bebop. Easily identifiable because of his stage presence and his trademark bent trumpet, Dizzy combined technique, blistering range, and power into his playing. Truly one of the greates trumpet players of all-time. Perhaps my greatest influence, not just in jazz, but in music.




MP3: "Prelude" from Gillespiana (Verve, 1961)
Mp3: "Alligator" from The Real Thing (Breathless, 1970)