Dizzy Gillespie – Ultimato

Dizzy Gillespie – Ultimato

A vibrant, all-star portrait of one of bebop’s founding architects, Ultimato captures Dizzy Gillespie in a wide-ranging, electrifying showcase of small-group firepower, big-band imagination, and global jazz influence.

Across these sessions, Gillespie is joined by an extraordinary roster of collaborators, including Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Roy Eldridge, Oscar Peterson, and Stan Getz, each bringing their own distinct voice to the bebop and modern jazz continuum. The result is a record that feels less like a single session and more like a summit meeting of jazz’s greatest minds.

From the intricate bebop lines of Bloomdido and Wee (AKA Allen’s Alley) to the lyrical depth of I Remember Clifford by Benny Golson, the album moves effortlessly between technical brilliance and emotional expression. Gillespie’s trumpet—brilliant, playful, and rhythmically fearless - anchors every setting, whether in high-speed improvisation or more reflective moments like Come Sunday by Duke Ellington.

The inclusion of Afro-Cuban and Latin-tinged pieces such as Chega De Saudade (No More Blues) and Fiesta Mojo further reflects Gillespie’s role as a pioneer in bringing global rhythmic traditions into modern jazz vocabulary.

Ultimato stands as a celebration of collaboration, innovation, and the boundless energy of bebop at its peak.

Tracklist:

1 Birk’s Works – 4:54
2 Bloomdido – 3:24
3 Sometimes I’m Happy – 5:22
4 Wee (AKA Allen’s Alley) – 8:26
5 I Remember Clifford – 4:47
6 Con Alma – 9:26
7 Ool Ya Koo – 5:37
8 The Umbrella Man – 2:40
9 Fiesta Mojo – 3:50
10 Chega De Saudade (No More Blues) – 5:55
11 Come Sunday – 3:00
12 Be-Bop – 6:17