Dizzy Gillespie - Salt Peanuts (2004) [Hi-Res]

Dizzy Gillespie is in better than usual form on this previously unreleased club date from 1981. The trumpeter's repertoire is streaky, with an overly long "On Green Dolphin Street" never really stating the melody or developing, and a "Blues Theme" being rather aimless. "Salt Peanuts" gets some sparks flying before the band runs through a typical version of the comedy number "Swing Low Sweet Cadillac." The second half of the disc, with excellent versions of "Land of Milk and Honey," "Tin Tin Deo," and the old standby "A Night in Tunisia," has the meat of the CD. The pianoless quintet has a sparse sound, with the underrated Sayyd Abdul Al-Khabyyr playing some fine tenor and flute solos and guitarist Ed Cherry getting his spots. The overall results are not quite essential but are worthwhile due to Dizzy's excellent late-period playing.