Description
German broadcaster NDR has recorded the stars of international jazz since the early 1950's and taken from this archive is a superb series of re-mastered CDs featuring previously unreleased material. The first album in this series features two groups: one led by an American of real stature - trumpeter and bebop innovator Dizzy Gillespie - and the other by saxophonist Hans Koller, then at the helm of the most important modern jazz quintet in the German-speaking world.
All of the music was recorded at NDR's studios on March 9th 1953 and the five tracks featuring Gillespie see him fronting his tightly knit working band of the time in a melodic programme made up of three standards and two Latin pieces.
Vienna-born Koller was at that time influenced by Lennie Tristano and those in his orbit. Joining him on four pieces from the "Great American Songbook" were trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff and pianist Jutta Hipp, who would soon relocate to the United States and record for Blue Note.
Dizzy Gillespie Quintet: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Bill Graham (baritone saxophone), Wade Legge (piano), Lou Hackney (bass), Al Jones (drums)
Hans Koller New Jazz Stars: Hans Koller (tenor saxophone), Albert Mangelsdorff (trombone), Jutta Hipp (piano), Shorty Roeder (bass), Karl Sanner (drums)
