The Giants of Jazz. Atlantic SD 2-905

Record 1.

Tin Tin Deo; Night in Tunisia; Woody'n You; Tour de Force;

Record 2.

Allen's Alley; Blue'n'Boogie; Everything Happens To Me; Dizzy's Rap; Blue Monk; 'Round Midnight; (November 14, 1971 - London)

Thelonious Monk - piano. Dizzy Gillespie - trumpet. Sonny Stitt - alto and tenor. Kai Winding - trombone. Al McKibbon - bass. Art Blakey - drums.

Notes by George Wein

The Giants of Jazz. It wasn't supposed to happen. But it did.

Leaders of their own fine groups, so many diverse personalities were not supposed to be able to work together.

So what happened? A world tour starting September 1971 in New Zealand and Australia. Then Japan. Around the world to Israel. And then every country in Europe including the Eastern European countries.

Gillespie, Blakey, Monk, Stitt, Kai Winding, Al McKibbon. Each gave up his group and split for forty-two concerts. (McKibbon left the studios)

Personality clashes! Forget it. The respect and love each had for the other was evident from the start. The first rehearsals were a story in themselves. Dizzy learning Monk's music. Monk listening to the Parker and Gillespie tunes that the group played. Listening, listening. Then when he decided what he wanted to play, coming up with some of his most creative ideas in years. Dizzy the spokesman but they all decided no leader. They would walk out on stage together. They asked not be introduced individually so there would be no "order of appearance."

Blakey, whose drive and swing is perhaps unsurpassed in jazz drumming, was fantastic. Listen to him on this album recorded in London at the Victoria Hammersmith Theatre.

Unbelievable!

Sonny Stitt - the old pro. Following in the 'notesteps' of Bird and Pres but with a spirit and love for the music enjoyed by few musicians. Everything Happens To Me received audience applause after the first recognizable strains. Maybe this should tell a few musicians something. Sonny couldn't get to Japan. He lost a lot of money. The Giants, as men as well as of music, played a gig in Israel and gave Sonny all the money so he wouldn't be short at the end of the tour.

McKibbon, a rock, timelessly holding the rhythm section together. Time! That's what it's all about.

Kai Winding, from Copenhagen, but having cut his teeth for so many years with Jay Jay Johnson - (Jay and Kai) - was superb.

Dizzy - the master - the boss - playing at an amazing level of consistency every night. Diz hadn't played with Monk for years. He was astonished at how well the audiences knew Monk's music.

Monk! The personification of the creative genius. His piano playing is superb.

This should be the best jazz album of the year.

The Giants are still together. How long can it last? They did a lot of festivals this year - 1972 - and are going back to Europe in October and Mexico in September. After this album is released - who knows.

The essence of the music they play is the essence of jazz itself.

It was a privilege for me to have been part of this great adventure.

GEORGE WEIN.