The Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars are a "ghost" band of sorts run by trumpeter and
Gillespie protégé
Jon Faddis. Recorded to celebrate the music and memory of
Gillespie,
Things to Come is a fiery live recording made in September of 2000 at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild; all proceeds from the sale of this disc go directly to the Craftsmen's Guild's minority-focused arts and learning center. Featuring various
Gillespie band alumni, from saxophonist
Jimmy Heath to trombonist
Slide Hampton, the album features updated arrangements of
Gillespie originals and songs associated with the innovative jazz icon. The supersonic trumpet of
Faddis is featured throughout and, as he's been called upon to do many times, he does a terrific job of emulating his idol. While this is a pristine-sounding and flawless recording, the simple fact that these songs, such as "Manteca" and "Stablemates," are such warhorses of the jazz idiom makes the CD seem a tad predictable. Nonetheless, fans of straight-ahead modern jazz and bebop should be very pleased with the results. ~ Matt Collar