Montreux '77: Dizzy Gillespie Jam

In the mid-1970s, a trumpet player emerged who not only imitated Dizzy Gillespie, but also showcased a broader range: Jon Faddis. Sadly, the two barely recorded together and their 1977 meeting at the Montreux Jazz Festival left much to be desired. While the trumpeters, along with vibraphonist Milt Jackson, pianist Monty Alexander, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Jimmie Smith, performed well on a few tracks such as "Girl of My Dreams," "Get Happy," "The Champ," and a ballad medley, there were surprisingly no exchanges between Faddis and Gillespie (with the former remaining too respectful throughout the session) and few dazzling moments in what should have been an explosive meeting.