The Dizzy Gillespie Big Band (1946)
Ray Brown - His Life and Music - Jay Sweet
Jay Sweet [+]
musician, educator and writer
Jay Sweet is a professional jazz bassist, educator, writer, and researcher. Currently, he teaches bass instruction and courses in Jazz History, American Music History, and Music Appreciation at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey. He has also taught several related courses at Middlesex College and Rutgers University. In addition, he is the owner and director of Sweet Music Academy, where he and his fantastic staff of highly trained instructors have taught well over 3,500 students through his efforts. Along with teaching, Jay Sweet is an active performer who has performed and recorded with several noted artists. Most recently, he has worked as a contributing editor of Jersey Jazz Magazine and released the book A History of American Music: An Origin Story 1750-1950 (Kendall Hunt).
Jay Sweet holds degrees from Berklee College of Music (B.M.) and Rutgers University (M.M.). He is also the host of the popular podcasts 30 Albums For 30 Years (1964-1994) and The Jazz Real Book.
Jay Sweet holds degrees from Berklee College of Music (B.M.) and Rutgers University (M.M.). He is also the host of the popular podcasts 30 Albums For 30 Years (1964-1994) and The Jazz Real Book.
Description
In 1946, Dizzy Gillespie's attempt with the Hepstations, a bebop big band, ended in failure due to miscommunications and hostility from southern audiences. Undeterred, Gillespie returned to establish a new Dizzy Gillespie Big Band. After a Spotlight Club residency and recording sessions, the band expanded, featuring talents like Kenny Clarke, Sonny Stitt, and John Lewis. Gillespie's commitment to entertainment, evident in the film "Jivin' in Bebop," contrasted with Bebop's purist ideals. The chapter highlights lineup changes, recording sessions, and the band's unique identity, with Ray Brown's growing prominence as a standout bassist in the bebop movement.