Dizzy Gillespie in London, 1969

And on this final day of my four-part series of tributes to Dizzy Gillespie, I saved the best for last: In November 1969, Jazz at the Philharmonic was in London. In the following video, we get to hear producer Norman Granz introduce the first jam-session septet (and oh was a group): Dizzy Gillespie (t), James Moody (as, fl), Clark Terry (flh), Zoot Sims (ts), Teddy Wilson (p), Bob Cranshaw (b) and Louie Bellson (d), plus T. Bone Walker (g) added on three songs.

The songs are Ow!; a medley of Star Dust, Yesterdays and You Go to My Head; Tin Tin Deo; Woman You Must Be Crazy, Goin' to Chicago Blues and Stormy Monday (T. Bone Walker); The Champ; Undecided, I've Got the World on a String and Love (Wilson, Cranshaw and Bellson).

Then Granz brings out Benny Carter (as) and Coleman Hawkins (ts). They play Blue Lou; Carter plays I Can't Get Started, Hawkins plays Body and Soul, they both play Bean Stalkin', with a spectacular drum solo by Bellson; and, finally, The Real BBC Blues.

No finer way to end the week than and to make yourself a cup of tea and listen and watch Dizzy and friends for an hour and a half. Dig the superb sound of this ensemble—their relaxed style together and the soulful and distinct expression of each artist.

Here's Dizzy and friends in London...