Dizzy Gillespie Movies
- 1946
Idem's Swing Era series presents luminaries from the swing-music scene in their element, performing their music. This episode stars the legendary Dizzy Gillespie. Swing Era: Dizzy Gillespie - Jivin' in Be-Bop features a total of 18 songs from a 1947 concert. Among the tunes are "Salt Peanuts," "Crazy About a Man," "He Beeped When He Should Have Bopped," and "Hubba Bubba Blues." ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- 1947
Various artists participate in the songs featured in this collection which includes "Rhythm in a Riff" and "Jivin' in Bebop." ~ All Movie Guide
- 1961
Jazz great John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie trumpets with his quintet in this four-song set, which is a black-and-white episode of Jazz Casual, music critic Ralph J. Gleason's renowned series for National Educational Television. Aired January 17, 1961, this program features Gillespie's work during his middle period. The mix of tunes includes Benny Golson's Blues After Dark (7:08), Gillespie's Lorraine (3:42), Norm's Norm (4:26), and Tocatta From Gillespiana (4:58). Highlights are solos by Gillespie, saxophonist-flutist Leo Wright, and pianist Lalo Schifrin, who later composed the distinctive theme to the television series Mission: Impossible. Chuck Lampkin plays drums, and Bob Cunningham handles the bass. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
Turn up the volume and take a lively trip back to the swing-jazz era as Ella Fitgerald, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and a whole host of jazz legends share the stage of New York's Philharmonic Hall for a once-in-a-lifetime performance captured live on October 23, 1972 and hosted by popular Tonight Show bandleader Doc Severinsen. In addition to offering the first and only television appearance by the original Benny Goodman Quartet, this concert also featured an unforgettable performance of "Blueberry Hill" by Buddy Hackett, rousing ensemble versions of "Struttin' with Some Barbecue" and "Mack the Knife", and a memorable performance of "Oh! Lady Be Good" by Fitzgerald and Basie. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Some of the biggest names in the history of jazz perform live in this concert film that captures some of the highlights of the 1975 Montreux Jazz Festival. Released by Stroyville DVD, Monterey Jazz Festival 1975 includes such songs as "Woman (Shake Your Booty)" by Etta James and the Outlaws, "Ichano" by the Chuck Mangione Quartet, and "Billie's Bounce" by Bill Evans, Marian McPartland, John Lewis, and Patrice Rushen. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gene Norman, Akiyoshi-Tabackin Big Band, (more)
- 1981
This musical tribute to the "Father of Bebop" also includes 20 noted jazz musicians. Dizzy Gillespie is the star of the day. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1981
- Add Dizzy Gillespie: Live in Montreal to QueueAdd Dizzy Gillespie: Live in Montreal to top of Queue
Image presents this live concert performance by one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time, legendary trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. Recorded in 1981, Dizzy Gillespie: Live in Montreal features the puffy-cheeked performer on-stage in Quebec, joined by Ed Cherry on guitar, Michael Howell on bass, and Thomas Campbell on percussion for such songs as "The Truth," "A Night in Tunisia," and "Dizzy's Blues." ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- 1982
The beloved characters from the long-standing Family Circus comic strip make an appearance in this animated holiday film. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
Dizzy Gillespie was one of the great trail-blazing artists of jazz -- clearing the way for the sonic innovations of be-bop, Latin, and progressive jazz, and playing his fine, distinctive trumpet alongside some of the music's most enduring talents. Dizzy's Dream Band records a 1982 date at New York's Lincoln Center in which Dizzy performed with an impressive collection of fellow jazz legends and gifted young turks, including Gerry Mulligan, Max Roach, Milt Jackson, Grady Tate, Curtis Fuller, and Jon Faddis. Selections include "A Night in Tunisia," "Groovin' High," "Manteca," and "Salt Peanuts." ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1984
Frustrated because she can't master the clarinet, Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe) practices day and night, resulting in an acute case of aching eardrums for the rest of the Huxtables. Though Cliff (Bill Cosby) secretly wishes that Vanessa would give up the instrument, he refuses to cancel her upcoming recital--mainly because he had to deliver, by his count, "1100 babies" to pay for her music lessons. In a last-ditch effort to get Vanessa on track, Cliff enlists the aid of a talented clarinetist named Mr. Hampton, who looks, sounds, and plays just like Dizzy Gillespie (mainly because he is!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
A collection of music, interviews and live footage is featured in this coverage of Monk's career. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1986
Animation veteran Faith Hubley worked solo for the first time since her husband's death in 1977 to oversee the feature-length cartoon The Cosmic Eye. The film concentrates on nothing less than the evolution of the earth, as seen through the eyes of three ultracool jazz musicians. Newly filmed material is blended with earlier Hubley projects to come up with an immensely satisfying unified whole. The animation is brilliantly complemented by the voicework (and musical contributions) of Dizzy Gillespie as the head musician, and by the soothing tones of Jean Stapleton as the humanized Earth. The film's overall message of peace, tolerance and conservation is never offered in the sledgehammer fashion of say, TV's Captain Planet. Completed in 1985, The Cosmic Eye was distributed on a limited basis the following year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1987
- R
- Add Masters of American Music: Celebrating Bird - The Triumph of Charlie Parker to QueueAdd Masters of American Music: Celebrating Bird - The Triumph of Charlie Parker to top of Queue
One year before the Clint Eastwood-directed Bird, Gary Giddins likewise covered the life and work of jazz great Charlie "Bird" Parker in this absorbing documentary. Rare filmclips of Parker in action on the alto and tenor sax are intertwined with the live reminiscences of his contemporaries. Among those interviewed are Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk and Charles Mingus. As a bonus, we see them in performance as well (and there are many, many bonuses in this film). As the title indicates, this is a celebration of Bird's life, though one cannot help but come away from the film grieving over Parker's premature death at age 34 in 1955. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
- Add A Night in Havana: Dizzy Gillespie in Cuba to QueueAdd A Night in Havana: Dizzy Gillespie in Cuba to top of Queue
Music, and particularly jazz, knows no borders, and this documentary follows the eminent trumpet great Dizzy Gillespie during a musical tour of Cuba, during which he gets to meet with Fidel Castro and has fun with local dancers and musicians. In concert footage, the balloon-cheeked musician plays A Night in Tunisia and Cubana Bop, among other favorites. In interviews, the musician speaks about his past and the musical compositions which have inspired him. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dizzy Gillespie
- 1988
Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, and Chuck Mangione are the stars in this performance at the historic Storyville club in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Once part of the infamous red-light district of the city, Storyville has hosted many of the great names in music. To the delight of the live audience, Ms. Vaughan sings some of her sultriest tunes, while Mangione and Gillespie perform some bebop classics, including "Take the "A" Train" and "Watermelon Man." ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don Cherry, Maynard Ferguson, (more)
- 1988
In this light romantic comedy, a rarity of Greek cinema, Nikoletta has been away from her husband Markos for a brief vacation and is greeted on her return by an affectionate and enthusiastic husband. He has even prepared a "welcome back" meal for her which is both thoughtful and perfectly awful, since he can't cook. She wonders, though, why he excuses himself so often to go to the bathroom. When she goes there herself she discovers that her well-endowed neighbor can be seen from that room, as she massages her breasts with a lotion or a cream of some sort. This leads Nikoletta to wonder if her husband has been (or is being) unfaithful to her, and she sets out to find out if her suspicions are true. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Akis Sakellariou, Smaragda Diamantidou, (more)
- 1989
- Add Dizzy Gillespie: Live in London to QueueAdd Dizzy Gillespie: Live in London to top of Queue
This program captures a jazz legend in performance: trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. Performing here with the United Nations Orchestra, Gillespie tears through a number of his favorites, including "Manteca" and "A Night in Tunisia." Making appearances are several other jazz musicians of some note, including James Moody and Slide Hampton. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
