Dizzy Gillespie - Portrait Of Jenny

‘Portrait of Jenny’ is the 2nd of two Dizzy Gillespie albums released on Perception Records in 1970, following on from ‘The Real Thing’ earlier that year. Recorded in Rudy Van Gelder’s legendary Englewood studio, Portrait of Jenny is very much an auteur album with Dizzy writing all four tracks as well as arranging and producing with his cousin Boo Frazier.

After the fusion of Jazz, funk and Be-bop in the previous album ‘Portrait of Jenny’ sees Gillespie return to his love of and experimentation with Afro-Cuban rhythms and the long form tracks that allow for solos and interplay between rhythm sections and the melodies.

Mike Longo returns on piano after his huge contribution on ‘The Real Thing’ and shines most notably on the classic 12 minute masterpiece ‘Me ‘n Them’. Longo is joined by the Gonzalez Brothers, Andrew and Jerry, on bass and congas respectively and arguably the GOAT of Cuban conganistadores, Carlos Valdes. Consider the fact that between them the Gonzalez Brothers and Valdes have been part of and/or worked with Harlem River Drive, Tito Puente, McCoy Tyner, The Salsoul Orchestra, Art Blakey and Quincy Jones it is easy to understand what an amazing combo session ‘Portrait of Jenny’ is.

Re-issued by BBE Music as part of the Perception/Today Records series ‘Portrait of Jenny’ is Dizzy Gillespie at his most creative as auteur composer, arranger and producer whilst paradoxically at his most collaborative in a combo line-up of Afro-Latin Jazz superstars.