Dizzy Gillespie

Dizzy Gillespie turned his life from knife-carrying roughneck to global citizen, and from alcohol to soul force. Perhaps Wynton Marsalis put it best, "His playing showcases the importance of intelligence. His rhythmic sophistication was unequaled. He was a master of harmony—and fascinated with studying it. He took in all the music of his youth—from Roy Eldridge to Duke Ellington—and developed a unique style built on complex rhythm and harmony balanced by wit. Dizzy was so quick-minded, he could create an endless flow of ideas at unusually fast tempo. Nobody had ever even considered playing a trumpet that way, let alone had actually tried. All the musicians respected him because, in addition to outplaying everyone, he knew so much and was so generous with that knowledge."

The painting I did is from a photo of someone else's work I greatly admire, photographer Herb Ritts (and whom I have also done a painting of in this blog). And below, Dizzy at his very best from a performance in 1965. Timeless and still brilliant.