Jazz is a popular style of music originating from a blend of blues and ragtime. There are many outstanding musicians that shaped the history and development of music. One of them is John “Dizzy” Gillespie, who invented the contemporary trumpet playing in jazz. According to Ulven (2020), Gillespie was a pioneer of Latin jazz and bebop and a progressive trumpeter. The purpose of this essay is to explain Gillespie’s influence on jazz history and discuss various people and events that shaped his life and career.
John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie was a trumpeter, composer, improviser, and bandleader who contributed to the development of music. Along with Charlie Parker, he was one of the leaders who created the bebop genre in the 1940s (“Dizzy Gillespie,” 2019). In doing so, he invented a new jazz canon reaching beyond the traditional style. Gillespie provided the foundation for future players, influencing other musicians who followed his steps.
This musician can be considered a cultural icon because of his outstanding performance and playing style. For example, he used to bump and bend his trumpet bell upward during a concert, puff out his cheeks, and use humor with the audience (Ulven, 2020). These features made Gillespie unique and memorable to the public. Besides, he influenced jazz music by improvising in a more limited and precise way and playing with strong bursts (Ulven, 2020). In addition, he can be heard in many recordings with various musicians, which is another important characteristic of Dizzy. He demonstrated his disapproval of political and racial inequalities and used music as an instrument of bringing people together.
As for Gillespie’s life, his own musical skills were influenced by various people and events since his early years. He was born in Cheraw, South Carolina, in 1917 as the youngest of nine children (Ulven, 2020). The boy’s father was a part-time musician and bandleader, which encouraged a young John’s interest in music. Gillespie learned to play the piano when he was four and taught himself to play trombone and trumpet when he was twelve. His musical training continued at Laurinburg Institute, and several years later, he joined his first band of Frankie Fairfax (Ulven, 2020). The nickname “Dizzy” appeared out of his love for joking around with other band members.
There were several people who influenced Gillespie’s life and career. For instance, Roy Eldridge, Mario Bauza, Charlie Parker, Thelonius Monk, and Chano Pozo played an important role in the musician’s development and interest in music (“Dizzy Gillespie,” 2019). During his Cab Calloway’s Orchestra career, Gillespie recorded “Pickin’ the Cabbage,” one of his first famous solos. Later, he also recorded other well-known songs in cooperation with other bands and artists, such as “A Night in Tunisia,” “Salt Peanuts,” “Shaw Nuff,” and “Groovin’ High” (“Dizzy Gillespie,” 2019). In the 1980s, Gillespie had numerous tours with different artists and bands overseas, and his contributions were recognized as he was invited to the White House (Ulven, 2020). As can be seen, Gillespie’s career was eventful and successful.
To summarize, John “Dizzy” Gillespie was an iconic jazz player and trumpeter who cooperated with numerous musical artists and influenced the history of music in various ways. Gillespie’s professional development throughout his career was a result of hard work and a keen interest in music. His unique style made him recognized by the audience and influenced other jazz performers. Besides, Gillespie’s open-minded and creative approach made people peaceful and friendly.
References
Dizzy Gillespie. (2019). Biography.
Ulven, J. (2020). History of Jazz Music.