Dizzy Gillespie at the Downbeat Club, New York, August 1947

Photo by William P. Gottlieb (public domain)

Dizzy Gillespie

Trumpet, Vocal · born 21 October 1917 – died 6 January 1993

▸ Click for Richard Cook Bio

John Birks Gillespie grew up with his eight siblings in Cheraw, South Carolina, and mostly taught himself the trumpet. He went to Philadelphia in 1935 and began playing in a local band led by Frankie Fairfax, where he made friends with Charlie Shavers and picked up his lifelong nickname, on account of a penchant for clowning around. Two years later he was in New York, scuffling for a job and eventually taking one of the trumpet chairs in the Teddy Hill band, because he sounded a bit like the previous incumbent, Roy Eldridge. He stayed two years (and visited Europe) but moved to Cab Calloway's band in 1939, where he became one of the star players, his Eldridge influence beginning to be displaced by an even more daring approach: after hours at Minton's in Harlem, he sat in with schemers such as Kenny Clarke and Thelonious Monk and tinkered with musical ideas that pointed towards a whole new sound. He was sacked from the band in 1941 after an argument with the leader and took on bits and pieces of work, before playing in a Philadelphia club where Charlie Parker often sat in. Both men then joined the Earl Hines band, staying for a year (a period during which no recordings were made), before Dizzy was hired by Billy Eckstine as MD for his new big band. Early in 1945, a Gillespie–Parker small group finally held an important engagement in New York, at The Three Deuces club, and it caused a sensation among musicians, effectively the unveiling of bebop. This was backed up by some of the first small-group bop recordings, for small labels such as Guild and Manor. Years of work and self-challenge had polished and driven Gillespie's playing to an electrifying level: as the message-bearer of bop's complexity and innate daring, his trumpet style brimmed with sensational ideas, enthrallingly executed. Although his tone sometimes betrays a thinness compared with some of those who followed him, it is also unflattered by the recording quality on many of the earlier bop sessions. With Parker, he was partnering the personification of bop's intensity: no wonder audiences were stunned, or in some cases repelled. At the end of 1945, Gillespie took a new sextet to the West Coast – the unreliable Parker was only occasionally in attendance – and played a residency at Billy Berg's club, although Californian audiences were sometimes indifferent to the new music. Back in New York, he had a second try at forming his own big band, the first attempt having quickly foundered a year earlier. Despite almost constant economic difficulties, the orchestra hung on until 1950, the only real bop big band which ever existed. Chano Pozo's addition to the rhythm section and originals such as Manteca (1947) made explicit Dizzy's interest in the possibilities of Afro-Cuban music, and there were radical charts in the book from such hands as George Russell, Gil Fuller and Tadd Dameron, as well as such sidemen as John Lewis, Milt Jackson and Sonny Stitt. But Gillespie was forced to disband in 1950 – in common with every other big-band leader, he felt the cold wind of an economic downturn. Slimming down to a sextet – which included John Coltrane – Gillespie carried on, for a time trying his hand at record production with his own Dee Gee label, although this went under quickly enough. He visited Europe early in 1952, and the following year saw one of his final appearances with Parker, at the celebrated Massey Hall concert in Toronto, with Bud Powell, Max Roach and Charles Mingus (the hall was half-empty owing to the concert's clashing with a big sports event). Norman Granz signed him to a record contract, where he 'met' the likes of Stan Getz and Roy Eldridge in the studios. During this period, he began playing a trumpet with an upturned bell, reputedly the consequence of an accident to one of his horns: it let him hear his own playing better.

In 1956 he went on a tour of the Middle East sponsored by the State Department, with a new big band, which he kept together for a time until another disbandment in 1958. Thereafter he worked with small groups during the 60s: James Moody was his regular front-line partner, and the music was nice if relatively uneventful. Gillespie seemed to save his best for projects such as Lalo Schifrin's setting Gillespiana (1960): as outstanding as his small-group work was, something about playing in front of an orchestra always seemed to take him up a notch. He ran for presidential office in 1963 (Jon Hendricks sang the campaign song, Vote Dizzy!) and was unsuccessful, but life on the road always kept him busy: he never kept away from bandstands for long. Granz signed him again when he started his new Pablo label, and there were a few goodish late records, although throughout the LP era record-making never seemed to bother Gillespie too much: one reason why his work is relatively undiscovered by the casual jazz audience is his lack of a signature album to come out of this period. By the 80s, he was jazz's most revered modernist, and bebop's great survivor: he always credited the steadying influence of his wife of many years, Lorraine, who kept him out of the trouble many of his contemporaries looked for. His lip was no longer as strong, but the sense of fun was undiminished, and he toured in honour of his 70th birthday with the old enthusiasm. Five years on, New York's Blue Note club put on a long celebration in honour of his impending 75th birthday, but his health had begun to fail and by the end of the year his powers had gone.

Among the compositions which he left behind were such bebop classics as A Night In Tunisia, Anthropology, Salt Peanuts (which Jimmy Carter sang with him at the White House) and Groovin' High, and with Manteca he ushered in the whole era of Latin jazz: his final big band he called The United Nation Orchestra, which shows how far his music had stretched. There was no greater entertainer in jazz, and no finer musician. One of Dizzy's visual trademarks was his enormously distended cheeks while blowing into the horn, a condition one doctor christened Gillespie's Pouches. Trumpet teachers always admonish their students not to puff out their cheeks while playing: but what aspiring trumpeter would not want to look and sound like Dizzy Gillespie?

Biography from Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia (2005).

If you'd like more information, check out The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2002) or The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (2007), both of which are still in print.

As leader

  • Dizzy Gillespie – AfroDizzy Gillespie – Afro
  • Dizzy Gillespie – Dizzier and DizzierDizzy Gillespie – Dizzier and Dizzier
  • Roy Eldridge and Dizzy Gillespie – Roy and DizRoy Eldridge and Dizzy Gillespie – Roy and Diz
  • Roy Eldridge and Dizzy Gillespie – Roy and Diz #2Roy Eldridge and Dizzy Gillespie – Roy and Diz #2
  • Dizzy Gillespie – World StatesmanDizzy Gillespie – World Statesman
  • Dizzy Gillespie – Dizzy In GreeceDizzy Gillespie – Dizzy In Greece
  • Dizzy Gillespie – Dizzy Gillespie and Stuff SmithDizzy Gillespie – Dizzy Gillespie and Stuff Smith
  • Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie, Harry Edison – Tour De ForceRoy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie, Harry Edison – Tour De Force

Plays on

  • Modern Jazz Sextet – The Modern Jazz SextetModern Jazz Sextet – The Modern Jazz Sextet
  • The Quintet – Jazz at Massey HallThe Quintet – Jazz at Massey Hall

Mentioned in text

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  • Clifford Brown and Max Roach – Study in BrownClifford Brown and Max Roach – Study in Brown
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  • Modern Jazz Quartet – ConcordeModern Jazz Quartet – Concorde
  • Miles Davis – The Musings of MilesMiles Davis – The Musings of Miles
  • Cannonball Adderley – Presenting CannonballCannonball Adderley – Presenting Cannonball
  • Nat Adderley – That’s NatNat Adderley – That’s Nat
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  • Jimmy Giuffre – The Jimmy Giuffre ClarinetJimmy Giuffre – The Jimmy Giuffre Clarinet
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  • Miles Davis – Volume OneMiles Davis – Volume One
  • Miles Davis – Volume TwoMiles Davis – Volume Two
  • Jay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume OneJay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume One
  • Jay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume TwoJay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume Two
  • Milt Jackson – And The Thelonious Monk QuintetMilt Jackson – And The Thelonious Monk Quintet
  • Jimmy Smith – A New Sound, A New Star, Volume OneJimmy Smith – A New Sound, A New Star, Volume One
  • Thad Jones – Detroit-New York JunctionThad Jones – Detroit-New York Junction
  • Jimmy Smith – A New Sound, A New Star, Volume TwoJimmy Smith – A New Sound, A New Star, Volume Two
  • Herbie Nichols – Herbie Nichols TrioHerbie Nichols – Herbie Nichols Trio
  • Kenny Burrell – Introducing Kenny BurrellKenny Burrell – Introducing Kenny Burrell
  • Clifford Brown – Memorial AlbumClifford Brown – Memorial Album
  • The Jazz Messengers – The Jazz MessengersThe Jazz Messengers – The Jazz Messengers
  • Howard Rumsey – Lighthouse at LagunaHoward Rumsey – Lighthouse at Laguna
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  • James Moody – Hi Fi PartyJames Moody – Hi Fi Party
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  • Miles Davis Quintet – MilesMiles Davis Quintet – Miles
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  • Tadd Dameron – FontainebleauTadd Dameron – Fontainebleau
  • Elmo Hope Sextet – Informal JazzElmo Hope Sextet – Informal Jazz
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  • Bennie Green – Blows His HornBennie Green – Blows His Horn
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  • Joe Wilder – Wilder ‘n WilderJoe Wilder – Wilder ‘n Wilder
  • Zoot Sims – ZootZoot Sims – Zoot
  • Jimmy Giuffre – The Jimmy Giuffre 3Jimmy Giuffre – The Jimmy Giuffre 3
  • Charles Mingus – The ClownCharles Mingus – The Clown
  • Modern Jazz Quartet – Modern Jazz QuartetModern Jazz Quartet – Modern Jazz Quartet
  • Milt Jackson – Plenty Plenty SoulMilt Jackson – Plenty Plenty Soul
  • Horace Silver – Horace Silver Trio and Art Blakey – SabúHorace Silver – Horace Silver Trio and Art Blakey – Sabú
  • Kenny Dorham – ‘Round About Midnight At The Café BohemiaKenny Dorham – ‘Round About Midnight At The Café Bohemia
  • Thad Jones – The Magnificent Thad JonesThad Jones – The Magnificent Thad Jones
  • Fats Navarro – The Fabulous Fats Navarro, Volume TwoFats Navarro – The Fabulous Fats Navarro, Volume Two
  • Johnny Griffin – Introducing Johnny GriffinJohnny Griffin – Introducing Johnny Griffin
  • Kenny Dorham – Afro-CubanKenny Dorham – Afro-Cuban
  • Lou Donaldson – Quartet Quintet SextetLou Donaldson – Quartet Quintet Sextet
  • Lee Morgan – Indeed!Lee Morgan – Indeed!
  • Lee Morgan – Lee Morgan SextetLee Morgan – Lee Morgan Sextet
  • Sonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume OneSonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume One
  • Hank Mobley Quintet – Hank Mobley QuintetHank Mobley Quintet – Hank Mobley Quintet
  • Art Blakey – Orgy in Rhythm, Volume OneArt Blakey – Orgy in Rhythm, Volume One
  • Art Blakey – Orgy In Rhythm, Volume TwoArt Blakey – Orgy In Rhythm, Volume Two
  • Lee Morgan – Lee Morgan, Volume ThreeLee Morgan – Lee Morgan, Volume Three
  • Sonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume TwoSonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume Two
  • Johnny Griffin – A Blowing SessionJohnny Griffin – A Blowing Session
  • Sabú – Palo CongoSabú – Palo Congo
  • Curtis Fuller – The OpenerCurtis Fuller – The Opener
  • Paul Chambers – Bass On TopPaul Chambers – Bass On Top
  • Bud Powell – Bud! The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume ThreeBud Powell – Bud! The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume Three
  • Miles Davis – Birth of the CoolMiles Davis – Birth of the Cool
  • Miles Davis – ‘Round About MidnightMiles Davis – ‘Round About Midnight
  • J.J. Johnson – First PlaceJ.J. Johnson – First Place
  • The Jazz Messengers – Hard BopThe Jazz Messengers – Hard Bop
  • Miles Davis – Miles AheadMiles Davis – Miles Ahead
  • Max Roach – Plus FourMax Roach – Plus Four
  • Nat Adderley – To The Ivy League From NatNat Adderley – To The Ivy League From Nat
  • Gerry Mulligan – Mainstream of JazzGerry Mulligan – Mainstream of Jazz
  • Horace Silver – Silver’s BlueHorace Silver – Silver’s Blue
  • Warne Marsh – Jazz of Two CitiesWarne Marsh – Jazz of Two Cities
  • Charles Mingus – Charles Mingus TrioCharles Mingus – Charles Mingus Trio
  • Modern Jazz Quartet / Milt Jackson Quintet – MJQModern Jazz Quartet / Milt Jackson Quintet – MJQ
  • Gil Mellé – Gil’s GuestsGil Mellé – Gil’s Guests
  • Tadd Dameron / John Coltrane – Mating CallTadd Dameron / John Coltrane – Mating Call
  • Billy Taylor – Cross SectionBilly Taylor – Cross Section
  • Hank Mobley / Al Cohn / John Coltrane / Zoot Sims – Tenor ConclaveHank Mobley / Al Cohn / John Coltrane / Zoot Sims – Tenor Conclave
  • Thelonious Monk / Sonny Rollins – Thelonious Monk and Sonny RollinsThelonious Monk / Sonny Rollins – Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins
  • Miles Davis All-Stars – Walkin’Miles Davis All-Stars – Walkin’
  • Sonny Rollins – Saxophone ColossusSonny Rollins – Saxophone Colossus
  • Phil Woods / Donald Byrd – The Young BloodsPhil Woods / Donald Byrd – The Young Bloods
  • Kenny Burrell – Kenny BurrellKenny Burrell – Kenny Burrell
  • Mal Waldron Quintet – Mal-1Mal Waldron Quintet – Mal-1
  • Mose Allison – Back Country SuiteMose Allison – Back Country Suite
  • John Coltrane – ColtraneJohn Coltrane – Coltrane
  • Curtis Fuller – New TromboneCurtis Fuller – New Trombone
  • Miles Davis – Bags GrooveMiles Davis – Bags Groove
  • Gene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi FiGene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi Fi
  • Idrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 TenorsIdrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 Tenors
  • Phil Woods / Gene Quill – Phil Woods & Gene Quill with PrestigePhil Woods / Gene Quill – Phil Woods & Gene Quill with Prestige
  • Phil Woods / Gene Quill / Sahib Shihab / Hal Stein – Four AltosPhil Woods / Gene Quill / Sahib Shihab / Hal Stein – Four Altos
  • Art Taylor – Taylor’s WailersArt Taylor – Taylor’s Wailers
  • Hal McKusick – Jazz WorkshopHal McKusick – Jazz Workshop
  • George Russell – Jazz WorkshopGeorge Russell – Jazz Workshop
  • Red Allen – Ride, Red, Ride in Hi-FiRed Allen – Ride, Red, Ride in Hi-Fi
  • Matthew Gee – Jazz by GeeMatthew Gee – Jazz by Gee
  • Ernie Henry – Presenting Ernie HenryErnie Henry – Presenting Ernie Henry
  • Bill Evans – New Jazz ConceptionsBill Evans – New Jazz Conceptions
  • Thelonious Monk – Brilliant CornersThelonious Monk – Brilliant Corners
  • Gigi Gryce – Jazz Lab QuintetGigi Gryce – Jazz Lab Quintet
  • Thelonious Monk – Thelonious HimselfThelonious Monk – Thelonious Himself
  • Clark Terry – Serenade to a Bus SeatClark Terry – Serenade to a Bus Seat
  • Kenny Dorham – Jazz ContrastsKenny Dorham – Jazz Contrasts
  • Thelonious Monk – Monk’s MusicThelonious Monk – Monk’s Music
  • Thelonious Monk – Mulligan Meets MonkThelonious Monk – Mulligan Meets Monk
  • Hank Mobley Quintet – Introducing Lee MorganHank Mobley Quintet – Introducing Lee Morgan
  • Hank Mobley – Jazz Message #2Hank Mobley – Jazz Message #2
  • Various Artists – Trumpets All OutVarious Artists – Trumpets All Out
  • Cecil Payne – Cecil PayneCecil Payne – Cecil Payne
  • Ray Brown – Bass Hit!Ray Brown – Bass Hit!
  • Tal Farlow – The Swinging Guitar of Tal FarlowTal Farlow – The Swinging Guitar of Tal Farlow
  • Billy Taylor – The New Billy Taylor TrioBilly Taylor – The New Billy Taylor Trio
  • George Wallington – Knight MusicGeorge Wallington – Knight Music
  • Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers – With Thelonious MonkArt Blakey’s Jazz Messengers – With Thelonious Monk
  • Paul Chambers – Paul Chambers QuintetPaul Chambers – Paul Chambers Quintet
  • Hank Mobley – Hank MobleyHank Mobley – Hank Mobley
  • Sonny Clark – Dial “S” For SonnySonny Clark – Dial “S” For Sonny
  • Curtis Fuller – Bone & BariCurtis Fuller – Bone & Bari
  • Lee Morgan – City LightsLee Morgan – City Lights
  • Sonny Clark – Sonny’s CribSonny Clark – Sonny’s Crib
  • John Coltrane – Blue TrainJohn Coltrane – Blue Train
  • Lee Morgan – The CookerLee Morgan – The Cooker
  • Sonny Clark – Sonny Clark TrioSonny Clark – Sonny Clark Trio
  • Sonny Rollins – A Night at the Village VanguardSonny Rollins – A Night at the Village Vanguard
  • Louis Smith – Here Comes Louis SmithLouis Smith – Here Comes Louis Smith
  • Bennie Green – Back on the SceneBennie Green – Back on the Scene
  • Lee Morgan – CandyLee Morgan – Candy
  • Lou Donaldson – Lou Takes OffLou Donaldson – Lou Takes Off
  • Louis Smith – SmithvilleLouis Smith – Smithville
  • Cannonball Adderley – Somethin’ ElseCannonball Adderley – Somethin’ Else
  • Bennie Green – Soul Stirrin’Bennie Green – Soul Stirrin’
  • Miles Davis – MilestonesMiles Davis – Milestones
  • Red Mitchell – Presenting Red MitchellRed Mitchell – Presenting Red Mitchell
  • Leroy Vinnegar Sextet – Leroy Walks!Leroy Vinnegar Sextet – Leroy Walks!
  • Hampton Hawes Quartet – All Night Session! Vols. 1-3Hampton Hawes Quartet – All Night Session! Vols. 1-3
  • Bill Holman – The Fabulous Bill HolmanBill Holman – The Fabulous Bill Holman
  • George Wallington Quintet – The PrestidigitatorGeorge Wallington Quintet – The Prestidigitator
  • Jimmy Cleveland – Cleveland StyleJimmy Cleveland – Cleveland Style
  • Max Roach + 4 – On the Chicago SceneMax Roach + 4 – On the Chicago Scene
  • Phil Woods – Warm WoodsPhil Woods – Warm Woods
  • Jackie McLean / John Jenkins – Alto MadnessJackie McLean / John Jenkins – Alto Madness
  • Yusef Lateef Quintet – The Sounds of YusefYusef Lateef Quintet – The Sounds of Yusef
  • John Coltrane – Traneing InJohn Coltrane – Traneing In
  • Steve Lacy – Soprano SaxSteve Lacy – Soprano Sax
  • Paul Quinichette – For BasiePaul Quinichette – For Basie
  • King Pleasure Sings / Annie Ross SingsKing Pleasure Sings / Annie Ross Sings
  • Miles Davis Quintet – Relaxin’Miles Davis Quintet – Relaxin’
  • Red Garland Quintet – All Mornin’ LongRed Garland Quintet – All Mornin’ Long
  • Frank Wess – Wheelin’ & Dealin’Frank Wess – Wheelin’ & Dealin’
  • Gene Ammons – The Big SoundGene Ammons – The Big Sound
  • Sonny Stitt – Stitt’s BitsSonny Stitt – Stitt’s Bits
  • Tommy Flanagan – OverseasTommy Flanagan – Overseas
  • Hal McKusick – Triple ExposureHal McKusick – Triple Exposure
  • Herbie Mann – Mann in the MorningHerbie Mann – Mann in the Morning
  • Red Garland Trio – MantecaRed Garland Trio – Manteca
  • Prestige Blues-Swingers – Outskirts of TownPrestige Blues-Swingers – Outskirts of Town
  • Freddy Redd Trio – San Francisco Suite for Jazz TrioFreddy Redd Trio – San Francisco Suite for Jazz Trio
  • Benny Golson – The Modern TouchBenny Golson – The Modern Touch
  • Johnny Griffin – Johnny Griffin SextetJohnny Griffin – Johnny Griffin Sextet
  • Bud Powell Trio – Blues in the ClosetBud Powell Trio – Blues in the Closet
  • Ornette Coleman – The Shape of Jazz to ComeOrnette Coleman – The Shape of Jazz to Come
  • Hank Mobley / Lee Morgan – Peckin’ TimeHank Mobley / Lee Morgan – Peckin’ Time
  • Art Blakey – Holiday for Skins, Volume 1Art Blakey – Holiday for Skins, Volume 1
  • Art Blakey – Holiday for Skins, Volume 2Art Blakey – Holiday for Skins, Volume 2
  • Dizzy Reece – Blues in TrinityDizzy Reece – Blues in Trinity
  • Horace Silver Quintet – Finger Poppin’Horace Silver Quintet – Finger Poppin’
  • Bennie Green – Walkin’ and TalkinBennie Green – Walkin’ and Talkin
  • Jimmy Smith – The SermonJimmy Smith – The Sermon
  • Gerry Mulligan – What Is There To Say?Gerry Mulligan – What Is There To Say?
  • Dave Brubeck – Gone With the WindDave Brubeck – Gone With the Wind
  • Miles Davis – Kind of BlueMiles Davis – Kind of Blue
  • Charles Mingus – Mingus Ah UmCharles Mingus – Mingus Ah Um
  • Cecil Taylor Quartet – Looking Ahead!Cecil Taylor Quartet – Looking Ahead!
  • Ornette Coleman – Tomorrow is the Question!Ornette Coleman – Tomorrow is the Question!
  • John Coltrane – SoultraneJohn Coltrane – Soultrane
  • Gene Ammons – Blue GeneGene Ammons – Blue Gene
  • Cannonball Adderley & Milt Jackson – Things Are Getting BetterCannonball Adderley & Milt Jackson – Things Are Getting Better
  • Wynton Kelly – Kelly BlueWynton Kelly – Kelly Blue
  • Johnny Griffin – The Little GiantJohnny Griffin – The Little Giant
  • Young Men from Memphis – Down Home ReunionYoung Men from Memphis – Down Home Reunion
  • Ornette Coleman – Change of the CenturyOrnette Coleman – Change of the Century
  • Walter Davis, Jr. – Davis CupWalter Davis, Jr. – Davis Cup
  • Donald Byrd – Byrd in HandDonald Byrd – Byrd in Hand
  • Kenny Burrell – On View at the Five Spot CafeKenny Burrell – On View at the Five Spot Cafe
  • Duke Pearson – ProfileDuke Pearson – Profile
  • Dizzy Reece – Star BrightDizzy Reece – Star Bright
  • Horace Parlan – Movin’ & Groovin’Horace Parlan – Movin’ & Groovin’
  • Jimmy Smith – Crazy! BabyJimmy Smith – Crazy! Baby
  • Jackie McLean – Capuchin SwingJackie McLean – Capuchin Swing
  • Yusef Lateef – The Three Faces of Yusef LateefYusef Lateef – The Three Faces of Yusef Lateef
  • Booker Little – Booker LittleBooker Little – Booker Little
  • Wynton Kelly – Kelly at MidniteWynton Kelly – Kelly at Midnite
  • John Coltrane – Giant StepsJohn Coltrane – Giant Steps
  • Curtis Fuller – Curtis Fuller, Volume ThreeCurtis Fuller – Curtis Fuller, Volume Three
  • Lee Morgan – Lee-WayLee Morgan – Lee-Way
  • Lou Donaldson – Sunny Side UpLou Donaldson – Sunny Side Up
  • Benny Bailey – Big BrassBenny Bailey – Big Brass
  • Howard McGhee – Maggie’s Back in TownHoward McGhee – Maggie’s Back in Town
  • Thelonious Monk – With John ColtraneThelonious Monk – With John Coltrane
  • Bill Evans Trio – ExplorationsBill Evans Trio – Explorations
  • J.J. Johnson / Kai Winding – The Great Kai & J.J.J.J. Johnson / Kai Winding – The Great Kai & J.J.
  • John Coltrane Quartet – Africa/BrassJohn Coltrane Quartet – Africa/Brass
  • Max Roach – Percussion Bitter SweetMax Roach – Percussion Bitter Sweet
  • Paul Gonsalves – Gettin’ TogetherPaul Gonsalves – Gettin’ Together
  • John Coltrane – Coltrane Plays the BluesJohn Coltrane – Coltrane Plays the Blues
  • Benny Carter and His Orchestra – Further DefinitionsBenny Carter and His Orchestra – Further Definitions
  • McCoy Tyner Trio – InceptionMcCoy Tyner Trio – Inception
  • Milt Jackson Quartet – StatementsMilt Jackson Quartet – Statements
  • Thelonious Monk Quartet – Monk’s DreamThelonious Monk Quartet – Monk’s Dream
  • Charles Mingus – Town Hall Concert, 1964Charles Mingus – Town Hall Concert, 1964
  • John Coltrane – Coltrane Live at BirdlandJohn Coltrane – Coltrane Live at Birdland
  • Wynton Kelly Trio – Smokin’ at the Half NoteWynton Kelly Trio – Smokin’ at the Half Note
  • Zoot Sims – Waiting GameZoot Sims – Waiting Game
  • Stan Getz – Sweet RainStan Getz – Sweet Rain
  • Joe Henderson – The KickerJoe Henderson – The Kicker
  • Miles Davis – And the Modern Jazz GiantsMiles Davis – And the Modern Jazz Giants
  • Joe Henderson – Power to the PeopleJoe Henderson – Power to the People
  • Miles Davis – Bitches BrewMiles Davis – Bitches Brew
  • Woody Shaw – The MoontraneWoody Shaw – The Moontrane
  • Jimmy Heath – Picture of HeathJimmy Heath – Picture of Heath
  • Tommy Flanagan – Ballads & BluesTommy Flanagan – Ballads & Blues