Sweet/Ray Brown, 4. The Dizzy Gillespie Big Band (1946)

In 1946, Dizzy Gillespie's attempt with the Hepstations, a bebop big band, ended in failure due to miscommunications and hostility from southern audiences. Undeterred, Gillespie returned to establish a new Dizzy Gillespie Big Band. After a Spotlight Club residency and recording sessions, the band expanded, featuring talents like Kenny Clarke, Sonny Stitt, and John Lewis. Gillespie's commitment to entertainment, evident in the film "Jivin' in Bebop," contrasted with Bebop's purist ideals. The chapter highlights lineup changes, recording sessions, and the band's unique identity, with Ray Brown's growing prominence as a standout bassist in the bebop movement.