2007 - Celebrating Dizzy Gillespie
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This year, the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival will celebrate the 90th birthday year of Jazz icon John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie. A visionary of the 20th century, Dizzy revolutionized Jazz as an art form and showed the world the unifying power of music.
Dizzy Gillespie (1917-1993)
Regarded as “The World Statesman of Jazz,” Dizzy Gillespie took pride in his role as the nation’s first great Jazz ambassador. His ability to blend various styles and ethnic influences transcended Jazz into a form of expression that breaks down barriers and bridge cultural gaps.
Almost 60 years ago, Maestro Gillespie began to explore the various styles and rhythms that characterize Latin American, Afro-Caribbean and African music. His historic collaborations with the great Cuban Conguero Chano Pozo catalyzed the integration of these influences within the Jazz genre, the impact of which has since extended to and influenced all genres of contemporary popular music. From Rock to Bossa Nova, from Rhythm and Blues to Hip Hop, from Salsa to Rap, and World Music, Gillespie helped Jazz become the common link that integrates and brings together the diverse musical cultures of our world.
In 1956, Dizzy Gillespie became the first Jazz artist to officially tour on behalf of the United States State Department as a cultural ambassador – when, with his big band, he toured in Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Greece, Turkey, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil. Gillespie exposed the world to Jazz, and in doing so, exposed Jazz to the world. He also toured numerous times on behalf of the U.S. Government throughout his career.
Gillespie’s accomplishments and contributions have resulted in numerous honors, among them the National Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center Honors, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, two Grammy Awards and honorary doctoral degrees from colleges and universities.
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