The Complete RCA Victor Recordings is a 1995 compilation 2-CD set of sessions led by Jazz trumpeter and composer Dizzy Gillespie recorded for the RCA Victor label between 1937 and 1949.[1]
Writing for Allmusic, Richard S. Ginell states: "Although the sheer scope of this double-CD roundup of all of Dizzy's Victor sessions places it most obviously within the evolution of bebop, it is absolutely essential to Latin jazz collections as well".[2]
Music historian and Arts Administrator for the National Endowment for the Arts, A. B. Spellman recommended the album for the NPR Basic Jazz Record Library, stating: "Primarily, I say this for the big band, but that's not all that's on here. You have some very early Dizzy, when he's playing with the Teddy Hill Orchestra or with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. You have some small group stuff from the 52nd Street time, when he was playing all the clubs there. And you also have a very interesting couple of tunes from the Metronome All-Stars, which put him with a wide array of jazz talents of the period. But, mainly you've got Dizzy Gillespie's Big Band here working, and that's a band that is very important for everybody to know about".[5]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz awarded the compilation a "Crown" signifying a recording that the authors "feel a special admiration or affection for".[3][6]
Track listing
All compositions by Dizzy Gillespie except where noted.
Recorded in New York City on May 17, 1937 (tracks 1–3 to 1–5), September 11, 1939 (track 1–6), February 22, 1946 (tracks 1–2 & 1–7 to 1–12), August 22, 1947 (tracks 1–13 to 1–16), December 22, 1947 (tracks 1–17 to 1–20), December 30, 1947 (Tracks 1-1, 1–21, 1–22 & 2–1), December 29, 1948 (tracks 2-2 to 2–5), January 3, 1949 (tracks 2–18 to 2–21), April 14, 1949 (tracks 2–6 to 2–9), May 6, 1949 (tracks 2–10 to 2–13) and July 6, 1949 (tracks 2–14 to 2–17)
Benny Bailey (tracks: 1-1, 1–17 to 2–1), Benny Harris (tracks: 2–6 to 2–17), Bill Dillard (tracks: 1–3 to 1–5), Dave Burns (tracks: 1-1, 1–13 to 2–5), Elmon Wright (tracks: 1-1, 1–13 to 2–17), Fats Navarro (tracks: 2–18, 2–19, 2–21), Lammar Wright Jr. (tracks: 1-1, 1–17 to 2–1), Matthew McKay (tracks: 1–13 to 1–16), Miles Davis (tracks: 2–18, 2–19, 2–21), Ray Orr (tracks: 1–13 to 1–16), Shad Collins (tracks: 1–3 to 1–5), Willie Cook (tracks: 2-2 to 2–17) – trumpet
Andy Duryea (tracks: 2-2 to 2–17), William Shepherd (tracks: 1-1, 1–13 to 2–1), Charles Greenlea (tracks: 2–14 to 2–17), Dicky Wells (tracks: 1–3 to 1–5), J. J. Johnson (tracks: 2–14 to 2–19, 2–21), Jesse Tarrant (tracks: 2-2 to 2–13), Kai Winding (tracks: 2–18 to 2–21), Sam Hurt (tracks: 2-2 to 2–13), Taswell Baird (tracks: 1–13 to 1–16), Ted Kelly (tracks: 1-1, 1–17 to 2–1) – trombone
Bill DeArango (tracks: 1–2, 1–7 to 1–12), Billy Bauer (tracks: 2–18 to 2–21), Charlie Christian (tracks: 1–6), John Collins (tracks: 1–13 to 1–16), John Smith (tracks: 1–3 to 1–5) – guitar
Al Haig (tracks: 1–2, 1–7 to 1–12), Clyde Hart (tracks: 1–6), James Forman (tracks: 2-2 to 2–17), John Lewis (tracks: 1-1, 1–13 to 2–1), Lennie Tristano (tracks: 2–18 to 2–21), Sam Allen (tracks: 1–3 to 1–5) – piano
Al McKibbon (tracks: 1-1, 1–17 to 2–17), Eddie Safranski (tracks: 2–18 to 2–21), Milt Hinton (tracks: 1–6), Ray Brown (tracks: 1–2, 1–7 to 1–16), Richard Fullbright (tracks: 1–3 to 1–5) – bass
Bill Beason (tracks: 1–3 to 1–5), Cozy Cole (tracks: 1–6), J. C. Heard (tracks: 1–2, 1–7 to 1–12), Joe Harris (tracks: 1–13 to 1–16), Kenny Clarke (tracks: 1-1, 1–17 to 2–1), Shelly Manne (tracks: 2–18 to 2–21), Teddy Stewart (tracks: 2-2 to 2–17) – drums
