Jazz Giants Play Farewell to Gillespie

Jazz greats and entertainers joined family and friends Saturday at a New York church to say goodby to legendary jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie.

It was a private funeral service and a tribute to a musical genius whose style and personality touched many around the world.

During the service, a chorus of world-famous jazz musicians, including Wynton Marsalis and Slide Hampton, stood on the wooden altar and played for their friend and mentor who died Wednesday at age 75.

More than 200 people packed into the church. Outside, a small group of fans stood in a bone-chilling breeze staring through a church window as snow flurries fell on the street.

A photograph of Gillespie stood next to his bronze coffin.

“He was my best neighbor. Every 175 years someone comes around who creates a new sound, a new way of playing music,” said singer Tony Bennett, who once lived next to Gillespie in Englewood, N.J. “He’s a gigantic loss. He was wonderful.”

Marsalis recalled meeting Gillespie in 1976 in New Orleans.

“He was like a father figure to all the musicians,” Marsalis said. “He always had something encouraging to tell you. He was always willing to help you play more music. He was a source of history, a great man. He was funny.”