Television Reviews : ‘Wolf Trap Salutes Dizzy’ Lives Up to ‘All-Star’ Label

“Wolf Trap Salutes Dizzy Gillespie,” subtitled “An All-Star Tribute to the Jazz Master,” is a 90-minute “Great Performances” special airing tonight on PBS. Taped last June at Wolf Trap Park in Vienna, Va., and ostensibly a celebration of Gillespie’s birthday, it took place more than four months before he turned 70.

Produced for TV by John T. Potthast (the concert itself was assembled by Charles Fishman), the program lives up to its billing by presenting almost 40 artists in a kaleidoscope of dazzling small-group formats. Most of the participants are former associates of the trumpet veteran, or simply longtime admirers.

Some of the groups are unique in their spanning of generations: in one set Wynton Marsalis shares the front line with Benny Carter and J. J. Johnson. There are moments when the show has a “This Is Your Life” overtone. Carmen McRae, accompanying herself at the piano, sings “Beautiful Friendship.” Gillespie joins with Sonny Rollins in “Wheatleigh Hall,” and memorably with Oscar Peterson for a duo outing on “All the Things You Are.”

David Amram reminisces about the cruise he and Gillespie took to Cuba in 1977, then plays a solo on two penny whistles. James Moody and Jon Hendricks join for some ebullient scatting, but the highlights of this number (and arguably of the entire show) are two spectacular solos, by Slide Hampton on trombone and by Gillespie’s protege Jon Faddis on trumpet.

Gillespie weaves in and out of this uneven but often wildly successful cornucopia. Even his reclusive wife, Lorraine, is seen briefly in a clip from an old Ed Murrow “Person to Person” program.

The show’s main fault is its failure to represent Gillespie adequately as a composer. Such tunes as “Con Alma,” “Groovin’ High” “Manteca” and “Ow!” certainly should have been included, perhaps in place of trivial bop vocalizing.

“Dizzie Gillespie” airs at 8 tonight on Channel 24, 9 p.m. on Channels 28 and 15.

Following the Gillespie salute at 10:30-11:30 tonight on Channel 28 will be a rerun of “Miles Ahead: The Music of Miles Davis,” an extraordinary production that blends old and new footage of Davis’ groups with tributes to him by Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, George Benson, Gil Evans, Bill Cosby and others, along with--most surprisingly--Davis talking at reasonable length about himself. Articulately narrated by Oscar Brown Jr., this is one of the great jazz documentaries.