Afro (album)

Afro
Studio album by Dizzy Gillespie
Released	1954
Recorded	May 24 and June 3, 1954 New York City
Genre	Afro-Cuban jazz, bebop
Length	33:05
Label	Norgran MGN 1003
Producer	Norman Granz
Dizzy Gillespie chronology
Diz and Getz (1953) Afro (1954) Dizzy and Strings (1954)

Afro is an album by trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie recorded in 1954 and originally released on the Norgran label.^[1]

Reception

The Allmusic review states "Pairing Dizzy Gillespie with Cuban arranger/composer Chico O'Farrill produced a stunning session which originally made up the first half of a Norgran LP... A later small-group session features the trumpeter with an all-Latin rhythm section and flutist Gilberto Valdes... it is well worth acquiring".^[2]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]

Track listing

1. "Manteca Theme" (Gil Fuller, Dizzy Gillespie, Chano Pozo) - 4:10
2. "Contraste" (Gillespie, Chico O'Farrill, Pozo) - 2:45
3. "Jungla" (Gillespie, O'Farrill, Pozo) - 4:44
4. "Rhumba Finale" (Gillespie, O'Farrill, Pozo) - 4:43
5. "A Night in Tunisia" (Gillespie, Frank Paparelli) - 4:19
6. "Con Alma" (Gillespie) - 5:05
7. "Caravan" (Juan Tizol) - 7:19

Personnel

• Dizzy Gillespie - trumpet, vocals
• Gilbert Valdez - flute (tracks 5-7)
• Quincy Jones, Jimmy Nottingham, Ernie Royal - trumpet (tracks 1-4)
• Leon Comegys, J. J. Johnson, George Matthews - trombone (tracks 1-4)
• George Dorsey, Hilton Jefferson - alto saxophone (tracks 1-4)
• Hank Mobley, Lucky Thompson - tenor saxophone (tracks 1-4)
• Danny Bank - baritone saxophone (tracks 1-4)
• Réne Hernandez (tracks 5-7), Wade Legge (tracks 1-4) - piano
• Lou Hackney (tracks 1-4), Roberto Rodríguez - bass
• Charlie Persip - drums (tracks 1-4)
• Cándido Camero - congas, percussion
• Mongo Santamaria - congas (tracks 1-4)
• José Mangual - bongos
• Ubaldo Nieto - timbales
• Ralph Miranda - percussion (tracks 5-7)
• Chico O'Farrill - arranger (tracks 1-4)

References