Billboard : 03/19/1955
Score of 79

Roy and Diz playing together? Hard to believe, but true. These two great trumpet players, the outstanding stars of two different jazz eras, combine for some unusually satisfying music-making. The difference in the styles of Eldridge and Gillespie is great, and it is fascinating to hear their respective approaches to similar technical problems. Of the two, Eldridge has done more to approximate Gillespie’s modern horn technique than vice versa, but it takes a set like this to make clear what the latter owes to Eldridge in terms of spirit, drive and warmth. The best rhythm section conceivable was assembled for the date: Louis Bellson, Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis and Ray Brown.

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Cashbox : 03/19/1955

Two of the best known trumpets in the business are paired with a socko rhythm section to drive the fellows on to their fabulous best. Roy Eldridge and Dizzy Gillespie pass the ball back and forth in an exciting display of trumpet virtuosity. Egging them on are Oscar Peterson, Louis Bellson, Herb Ellis and Ray Brown. Jazz fans will like.

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Down Beat : 04/06/1955
Nat Hentoff : 5 stars

The first of a two part album representing the initial sides Eldridge and Gillespie have cut together. The (power) house rhythm section is composed of Oscar Peterson, Louie Bellson, Herb Ellis, and Ray Brown. Spurred on by inevitable rivalry (and also probably by memories of “in person” duels in the early ’40s and later up to the recent JATP tourney and and in Europe) Roy and Diz play at the top of their competitive form. The up-tempo exchanges are marked by crackling fire and driving imagination and make for an exciting series of trumpet duels, though they’re somewhat too long-drawn-out in places.

The deeply felt Started is a memorable achievement by both, and also have a beautifully understated Oscar Peterson solo. On Baby, the two sing in unison and then trade solo vocal flights. Both are reigning humorists in the scat singing league, and in their trumpet match, the result is a highly enjoyable draw for the listener. Recorded sound is good. I wonder how long Chet Baker or Maynard Ferguson could stand up in that ring?

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Liner Notes by Norman Granz

After a certain point of time, first the incubation, then the growing, then the mature phases of a musician’s life, important figures emerge and are generally recognized by the critic and the layman as a truly great artist. Louis Armstrong set the pace for trumpets and from Louis we got Roy Eldridge. And Roy to this day has maintained his position as the important trumpet man in terms of spirit, drive, and warmth.

After Roy the second great trumpet figure to emerge was Dizzy Gillespie. Dizzy at first was considered part of the “cool” school, but I think that designation could be more aptly applied to a Miles Davis or the late Fats Navarro. I think that today Dizzy is unrivalled as the purveyor of the so-called modern trumpet. (I know that there will be some who will protest the emergence of Chet Baker as an important in jazz, but I think here we will have to let time decide as to whether his talent be transient or not; Dizzy, on the other hand, has the permanent talent by which all artists must necessarily be judged.)

As far as I know, Roy and Dizzy have never recorded together – and this is their first album. I got the best rhythm section I could conceive of for this date, and it included Oscar Peterson, Louis Bellson, Herb Ellis, and Ray Brown. The instructions to the rhythm section in fact were to drive both trumpet players as hard as they could and provide them with as much spirit as they could, but after that stay out of the way and let the two have it out.

Nowhere is the difference in styles more clearly demonstrated than in this first album of Roy and Diz, and I think that each gives one of his most spirited performances because of the presence of the other. Undoubtedly the incentive of ego and pride in one’s playing entered into this date and it makes the contrast even more startling and more effective.

This is the first part of a two part album of Roy and Diz. The second will be released in the future.