Dizzy Gillespie - Groovin' High

Dizzy Gillespie was born in 1917 and similar to Charlie Parker was on of the pioneers of bebop just not as big as parker. Gillespie, a trumpet player, often played with Parker but Gillespie was a bit more responsible and not addicted to drugs like Parker was.

Gillespie grew up with the same social problems that Parker went through but I still would like to discuss Gillespie influence on jazz. He was seen as more responsible than Parker. Gillespie lead his own bebop big bands through the 40s and continued to play bebop even though jazz was becoming less and less popular because of rock. Gillespie was a phenomenal trumpet player with a solo ability comparable to Charlie Parker.

In "Groovin' High" listen to Gillespie on the trumpet. Compare his solo to Charlie Parker. Not as fast and agile as Parker but Gillespie uses his instrument in a different way to attack his melodies. Go back to "Leapfrog" and listen for the subtle differences in style between the two musicians.