Winter In Lisbon

Product Description:

Personnel include: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet); Leola Jiles (vocals); Mario Rivera (flute, soprano saxophone); Tony Kadleck (trumpet); Danilo Perez (piano); George Mraz (double bass); Grady Tate (drums).

Recording information: The Power Station, New York, New York (08/1990).

In 1990 Dizzy Gillespie recorded the soundtrack for and starred in a film called THE WINTER IN LISBON. Though the film was never distributed, the soundtrack remains, and was issued on CD in 2004. Featuring a 13-piece orchestra including pianist Danielo Perez, drummer Grady Tate, and saxophonist Mario Rivera, THE WINTER IN LISBON features all Gillespie originals arranged and conducted by the great Slide Hampton.

Though there is a fair bit of swinging, bop-inflected jazz, some of the music is quite cinematic, especially the lovely "Lucretia's Theme," a solo piano spot for Perez, and the languorous "Magic Summer" with its vocal by Leola Jiles. Gillespie plays lead throughout, and while his chops naturally can't compare with his work from the '40s and '50s, it is still a pleasure to hear him. THE WINTER IN LISBON will be of particular interest to collectors and to those interested in seeing what Gillespie was up to in the latter stages of his career.