John Birks “Dizzy
” Gillespie brought an infusion of humour and high spirits to jazz that was as rare as his sublimely dexterous playing, which was fast and fluid. His solos were characterised by breakneck runs followed by pauses, by huge interval leaps, long high notes, slurs and smears, and bluesy phrases.
A combination of wild clothes, onstage clowning, scat singing, and a habit of carrying his trumpet in a paper sack, earned Gillespie his nickname, but his talent extended...