Dizzy Reece

Jamaican trumpeter Dizzy Reece (born 1931) had a short UK career before moving to New York in 1959, but this included some significant recordings highlighting his originality . He was at school with Joe Harriott and came to Britain at 17 on the Empire Windrush in 1948 (other musicians among the 492 passengers included Lord Kitchener and Granville Edwards). He found it difficult to get regular playing opportunities in London and moved to Paris where he played with Don Byas, Walter Bishop and Kenny Clarke. Returning to the UK in 1952 he played with the bands of Cab Kaye, Kenny Graham, Victor Feldman and Tony Crombie. From 1955, Reece often led his own bands featuring Tubby Hayes, Ronnie Scott and Phil Seamen among others. He composed the music for the 1958 Ealing film Nowhere To Go.

In 1959 Reece made a permanent move to New York where he recorded several albums for Blue Note. Albums in his own name included Stanley Turrentine, Wynton Kelly and Duke Jordan among a shifting but frequently glittering personnel. After 1960, Reece’s recordings have been more sporadic, but when they have appeared – his 1978 ‘Manhattan Project’ for example – they have usually received glowing notices.

Key Recordings:
Blues In Trinity (Blue Note 1958)
Asia Minor (OJC 1962)