|
| Dizzy Reece discography... |
|
|
Born in Jamaica in 1931, Dizzy Reece started playing the trumpet at the age of 14. His schoolmates included Joe Harriott and Wilton 'Bogey' Gaynair. He came to London on the M.V. Windrush in 1948 but his erratic playing did not endear him to the London bop musicians and he failed to establish himself into what he later referred to as a 'closed shop'. He left for Europe and worked in Paris (1949/50) with Don Byas and Kenny Clarke before playing in Germany and Holland also with Byas. He returned to the UK in 1954 and was heard with Kenny Graham's Afro Cubists and he joined the Tony Crombie band, a medium sized band based on the sound of James Moody's Blue Note recording band, noted for its unrelenting attack, and he stayed with them into 1955. He returned to Europe and travelled and worked through the mid fifties returning to London to play and record from 1955 to 1958. His style of playing at this time took leaps forward and back, a situation not helped by Reece's reluctance to play unless he wanted to, unless the conditions were just right, or unless he could do as he wished! At a time when most other British jazz trumpeters were copying either Clifford Brown or Miles Davis, Reece sounded like neither. He did not get on with many of the London musicians, he always had a problem finding suitable drummers, but did form happy and useful alliances with drummer Phil Seamen, vibraphonist Victor Feldman, and with the tenor saxophonist Tubby Hayes who all appeared on the fine Tempo recordings he made in this period. His services had not been wildly sought after by the London jazz club proprietors, his playing could be erratic and it was difficult to get musicians to work with him. By now his style was extrovert post bop and he was a capable and original soloist. His early style was based very much on Dizzy Gillespie. The considerable emotional content in his work led to him being described as erratic. His solos often had an angry sound but he developed his own style that was always instantly recognisable. As he developed much of the early Gillespie influence receded. He had recorded with Kenny Graham and Victor Feldman and under his own name. In 1958 he recorded for Blue Note in London as The Dizzy Reece Quintet with Donald Byrd and Art Taylor alongside Tubby Hayes and Terry Shannon. In 1959 he made the decision to settle in New York. His services had not been wildly sought after by the London jazz club proprietors, his playing could be erratic and he always had a problem finding suitable drummers. continued top right... |
   continued from bottom left... His style now was extrovert post bop and he was a capable and original soloist. His early style was based very much on Dizzy Gillespie. The considerable emotional content in his work led to him being described as erratic. His solos often had an angry sound but he developed his own style that was always instantly recognisable. As he developed much of the early Gillespie influence receded. A number of American jazzmen who heard Reece play, such as Miles Davis and Sonny Rollins, were impressed and in 1958 Tony Hall, A UK record producer and big fan of Dizzy, engineered Reece's signing to the prestigious Blue Note label. Reece's first Blue Note date, Blues In Trinity, is a record of sky-rocketing hard bop energy, pitting Reece and Tubby Hayes against the trumpeter Donald Byrd and drummer Art Taylor. Reece outshines everyone (save perhaps Hayes, who is in mercurial form) and the whole set vindicates Tony Hall's decision to support the trumpeter. In 1959, Reece moved to New York but his move did not herald the success and recognition that everyone hoped for and actually began the abstraction of his career. Two more Blue Note dates followed in 1960, (they were not released until many years later), neither was as impressive as Blues In Trinity and Reece's profile on the jazz scene was not prominent. In the 1960s, Reece returned to Europe and worked with Dizzy Gillespie, Hank Mobley and others and recorded only sporadically in the 1970s. By the 1990s little was heard from him and Reece remains an example of a great early promise that ended ultimately in anti climax. It is a great pity that Joe Harriott and Dizzy Reece never recorded as a quintet. An attempt to get them together on record was, in Tony Hall's recollection, a total disaster - the session ended in a raging argument between the two front line men because of both men's intractable belief that their own direction was the only one. |
|
Dizzy Reece Jazz Monthly (1959)... Dizzy Reece in New York (1959-2006)... Kenny Graham's Afro Cubists - April 27th, 1954 (Esquire) Dizzy Reece (tp), Kenny Graham (ts), Joe Harriott (as), Eddie Mordue (bs), Freddy Logan (b), Ginger Johnson (d). The Continental/Cottontail/Fascinating Rhythm/Blues In The Night. Tony Crombie And His Orchestra - October 30th, 1954 (Decca) (JMC9) Dizzy Reece, Les Condon (tp), Joe Temperley, Sammy Walker (ts), Lennie Dawes (bs), Harry South (p), Ashley Kozak (b), Tony Crombie (d). Good Bait*/Ahmed*/Compos Mentis*#/Down Under*. (*Jasmine CD - Modern Jazz At The Festival Hall - 1954) (#Ember CD - Tony Crombie - A Tribute) Tony Crombie And His Orchestra - November 18th, 1954 (Decca) Dizzy Reece, Les Condon (tp), Joe Temperley, Sammy Walker (ts), Lennie Dawes (bs), Harry South (p), Ashley Kozak (b), Tony Crombie (d). Perdido/Stop It/Love You Madly (vocal Annie Ross)All Of Me (vocal Boby Breen). 'In Town' Jazz Group - January 9th, 1955 (Decca LF1217) Dizzy Reece (tp), Johnny Rogers (as), Kathleen Stobart (ts), Eddie Thompson (p), Jack Fallon (b), Don Lawson (d). I've Got You Under My Skin/I Can't Get Started/Good Queen Bess/52nd Street Theme. Vic Feldman Modern Jazz Septet - March 3rd, 1955 (Esquire EP64* (JMC2) / (EP84^ (JMC17) Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Dizzy Reece (tp), Derek Humble (as), Tommy Pollard (p), Victor Feldman (vib), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). Typhoon^/UMF*. Dizzy Reece Quintet - May 16th, 1955 (Tempo LAP3) Dizzy Reece (tp), Sammy Walker (ts), Tony Crombie (p), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). O Moon*/Butch*/Bang!*/This Is Always*. (*Jasmine CD - A New Star - Dizzy Reece) Dizzy Reece Quintet - July 14th, 1955 (Tempo LAP3) Dizzy Reece (tp), Tubby Hayes (ts), Harry South (p), Pete Blannin (b), Bill Eyden (d). Now's The Time*/Please Call*. (*Jasmine CD - A New Star - Dizzy Reece) (*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Tubby Hayes - The Little Giant) Vic Feldman Modern Jazz Quintet/Septet - August 18th, 1955 (Tempo) Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Dizzy Reece (tp), Derek Humble (as), Tommy Pollard (p), Victor Feldman (vib), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). Brawl For All*/The Big Fist*/Sunshine On a Dull Day*/Sonor*/Hand In Hand*/When?* (omit Deuchar and Humble). (*Jasmine CD - Departure Dates - Victor Feldman) (Other sources give this recording date as June 9th, 1954) Vic Feldman Big Band - September 21st, 1955 (Tempo EXA29) (JMC29) Jimmy Watson, Jimmy Deuchar, Dizzy Reece (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Derek Humble (as), Ronny Scott, Tubby Hayes (ts), Harry Klein (bs), John Burden (french horn), Jim Powell (tuba), Norman Stenfalt (p), Victor Feldman (vib), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). Elegy*/Big Top*^/Cabaletto*^/Introduction*^/Maenya*^. (*Jasmine CD - Departure Dates - Victor Feldman) (^Proper Records 4CD Box set - Tubby Hayes - The Little Giant) New Jazz Group - February 18th, 1956 (Tempo TAP2(1)) Dizzy Reece (tp), Derek Smith (p), Sammy Stokes (b), Allan Ganley (d). Any Questions(1)*/These Foolish Things(1)*/Umf(1)*/Diz The Wiz*. (*Jasmine CD - British Modern Jazz scene - 1956) Dizzy Reece Group - April 26th, 1956 (Tempo TAP9) Dizzy Reece (tp), Johnny Weed (p), Dave Goldberg (g), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). Chorus*/Basie Line*/Night Life (unissued)/The Gypsy (unissued). (*Jasmine CD - A New Star - Dizzy Reece) Dizzy Reece Group - July 23rd, 1956 (Tempo - (1)TAP4 - (2)TAP10 - (3)TAP9) (JMC32) Dizzy Reece (tp), Ronnie Scott (ts)^, Terry Shannon (p), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). Yardbird Suite(1)*/How Deep Is The Ocean(1)*/Bluebird (take1)(1)*/Bluebird (take2)(1)*/Out Of Nowhere(3)^*/Scrapple From The Apple(3)^*. (*Jasmine CD - A New Star - Dizzy Reece) Victor Feldman Quartet - December 6th, 1956 (Tempo TAP8) (JMC33) Dizzy Reece (tp), Victor Feldman (p), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). Wilbert's Tune*. (*Jasmine CD - Victor Feldman in London - Vol 1) Victor Feldman Nine-tet - December 11th, 1956 (Tempo) Dizzy Reece & Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Derek Humble (as), Ronnie Scott (ts), Tubby Hayes (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Lennie Bush (b), Victor Feldman (d). Short Circuit*/Woodwork*. (*Jasmine CD - Victor Feldman in London - Vol 1) (*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Tubby Hayes - The Little Giant) Vic Feldman Big Band - December 12th, 1956 (Tempo TAP12) Bobby Pratt, Jimmy Deuchar, Dizzy Reece (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Derek Humble (as), Ronny Scott, Tubby Hayes (ts), Joe Temperley (bs), John Burden (french horn), Jim Powell (tuba), Norman Stenfalt (p), Victor Feldman (vib), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). (Pete King (bs) replaces Joe Temperley on "Karen"). Blues In Two Modes*^/Jennie*/One Momentum*/Karen*^. (*Jasmine CD - Victor Feldman in London - Vol 2) (^Proper Records 4CD Box set - Tubby Hayes - The Little Giant) Dizzy Reece Group - December 28th, 1956 (Tempo - (1)TAP19 - (2)TAP9 - (3)TAP10 - (4)EXA85) Dizzy Reece (tp), Victor Feldman (p), Lloyd Thompson (b), Phil Seamen (d). Stomp(1)*/Riviera(2)*/Now(2)*/Get Up(1)(4)*/The Gypsy (take-1)(3)*/Momentum(2)*/The Gypsy (take-2)(2)*. (*Jasmine CD - Progress Report - Dizzy Reece) Vic Feldman - Tubby Hayes Sextet - January 3rd, 1957 (Tempo) Dizzy Reece (tp), Ronnie Scott (ts), Tubby Hayes (bs), Tony Crombie (p), Lennie Bush (b), Victor Feldman (d). Strollin'*. (*Jasmine CD - Victor Feldman in London - Vol 2) Dizzy Reece Group - January 3rd, 1957 (Tempo - TAP19 - (1)EXA85) Dizzy Reece (tp), Ronnie Scott (ts), Tubby Hayes (bs), Victor Feldman (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (Four only), Benny Goodman (d). Four(1)*/Turnpike (unissued)/Together*/Darn That Dream*/I Surrender Dear*/I've Lost your Love*. (*Jasmine CD - Victor Feldman in London - Vol 2) Dizzy Reece Quintet - November 29th, 1957 (Tempo - (1)EXA84 - (2)EXA89) Dizzy Reece (tp), Sammy Walker (ts), Norman Stenfalt (p), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). A Variation On Monk(1)*/Sweet And Lovely(1)*/Eboo(2)*/On The Scene(2)*. (*Jasmine CD - Progress Report - Dizzy Reece) Dizzy Reece Quintet - August 24th, 1958 (Blue Note BLP4006) Dizzy Reece, Donald Byrd (tp), Tubby Hayes (ts), Terry Shannon (p), Lloyd Thompson (b), Art Taylor (d). Color blind*(DB out)/Blues In Trinity*(DB out)/Just A Penny*/Round About Midnight*(DR,DB out)/I Had The Craziest Dream*(TH,DB out)/Eboo*/Close Up*/Shepherd's Serenade*. (*Blue Note CD - Blues in Trinity) (*Mosaic 3CD set - Mosaic Select: Dizzy Reece) Dizzy Reece Quartet - October 2nd, 1958 (Tempo EXA86) Dizzy Reece (tp), Tubby Hayes (ts, bs), Lloyd Thompson (b), Phil Seamen (d). Main title (Nowhere To Go)*#/The Escape And The Chase*#/The Search (On The Scene)*/The Sunset Search (Nowhere To Go)*. (*Jasmine CD - Progress Report - Dizzy Reece) (#SWP Records CD - The Late, Great Phil Seamen) Dizzy Reece did not record with British musicians after this date and settled permanently in the USA in 1959 with a recording contract from Blue Note records. Some of the records from this contract remained unissued for some years but in 2004 Mosaic Records issued a 3 CD set that included all the Blue Note sessions. All the Blue Note's were recorded at Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA. Full details are included here because the set is available in the UK... Dizzy Reece Quintet - November 19th, 1959 (Star Bright - Blue Note BLP4023) Dizzy Reece (tp), Hank Mobley (ts), Wynton Kelly (p), Paul Chambers (b), Art Taylor (d). The Rebound*/A Variation On Monk*/I Wished On The Moon*/The Rake*/I'll Close My Eyes*/Groovesville*. (*Mosaic 3CD set - Mosaic Select: Dizzy Reece) Dizzy Reece Quintet - April 3rd, 1960 (Comin' on - Blue Note) Dizzy Reece (tp), Stanley Turrentine (ts), Bobby Timmons (p), Jymie Merritt (b), Art Blakey (d). The Case Of The Frightened Lover*/The Story Of Love*/Ye Olde Blues*/Tenderley*/Achmet*. (*Mosaic 3CD set - Mosaic Select: Dizzy Reece) Dizzy Reece Quartet - May 12th, 1960 (Soundin' off - Blue Note BLP4033) Dizzy Reece (tp), Walter Bishop Jr. (p), Doug Watkins (b), Art Taylor (d). Yesterdays*/Our Love Is Here To Stay*/Once In A While*/Ghost Of A Chance*/Blue Streak*/Eb Pob*. (*Mosaic 3CD set - Mosaic Select: Dizzy Reece) Dizzy Reece Quintet - May 12th, 1960 (Soundin' off - Blue Note BLP4033) Dizzy Reece (tp), Walter Bishop Jr. (p), Doug Watkins (b), Art Taylor (d). Yesterdays*/Our Love Is Here To Stay*/Once In A While*/Ghost Of A Chance*/Blue Streak*/Eb Pob*. (*Mosaic 3CD set - Mosaic Select: Dizzy Reece) Dizzy Reece Sextet - July 17th, 1960 (Comin' on - Blue Note) Dizzy Reece (tp), Stanley Turrentine (ts), Musa Kaleem (ts,fl), Duke Jordan (p), Sam Jones (b), Al Harewood (d). Goose Dance*/Sands*/Comin On*/The Things We Did Last Summer*. (*Mosaic 3CD set - Mosaic Select: Dizzy Reece) Duke Jordan Quintet - August 4th, 1960 (Flight to Jordan - Blue Note) Dizzy Reece (tp), Stanley Turrentine (ts), Duke Jordan (p), Reggie Workman (b), Art Taylor (d). Flight To Jordan*/Si-joya*/Split Quick*/Squawkin'*/Diamond Stud*/Starbrite*/Deacon Joe*/I Should Care* (DJ + rhythm only). (*Blue Note CD - Flight to Jordan) On March 13th, 1962 Reece recorded an album in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey for the US New Jazz label. Titled Asia Minor, the group was made up of : Dizzy Reece (tp), Joe Farrell (ts,fl), Cecil Payne (bs), Hank Jones (p), Ron Carter (b), Charlie Persip (d). The resulting record was released in the UK on the Esquire label (32-185). A CD was issued years later on the OJC label... Reece then disappeared from the US studios and does not appear on record again until 1970 when a German label MPS recorded two tracks from the Zurich Jazz Festival with the German / Swiss Radio Jazz Orchestra. He then moved to France and recorded an album titled From in to out with tenor sax player John Gilmore for the French Futura label. The resulting record was not released in the UK... Ten years after his 1962 album Dizzy Reece returned to the studios to record for the label Honey Dew. The album was made in two sessions, in 1972 and 1974 with a different small group on each occasion. The album was titled Possession, Exorcism, Peace and included a number of exotic instruments and included a "meditation suite". The resulting record was not released in the UK... On January 17th, 1978 Reece recorded a more conventional album in New York for the US Bee Hive label. Titled Manhattan project, the group was made up of : Dizzy Reece (tp), Clifford Jordan, Charles Davis (ts), Albert Dailey (p), Art Davis (b), Roy Haynes (d). The resulting record was not released in the UK... During March / June, 1978 Dizzy Reece recorded a "two trumpet" album in New York for the Japanese Interplay label. Titled Blowin' away, the group was made up of : Dizzy Reece, Ted Curson (tp), Claude Williamson (p), Sam Jones (b), Roy Haynes (d). The resulting record and CD were not released in the UK... In 2006 Dizzy recorded a new CD "Nirvana - The Zen of the Jazz Trumpet", the publicity for which included a long description of Dizzy's life in New York... Dizzy Reece in New York (1959-2006)... |
|