A tribute to the ‘greatest’ jazz concert
They billed themselves simply as the Quintet. The performance on May 15, 1953, would become known as possibly the greatest jazz concert of all time.
Dizzy Gillespie working his trumpet. Charlie “Bird” Parker on the saxophone. Max Roach on drums. Charles Mingus on bass and Bud Powell on the piano.
The five jazz legends played together only this one time, a Toronto concert that brought together key architects of the modern jazz style known as bebop.
Fifty years later, Toronto’s Massey Hall will commemorate the event this week by assembling another quintet of celebrated jazz musicians to re-create the historic concert in the same venue.
This time, Herbie Hancock will be on piano, Roy Haynes on drums, Roy Hargrove on the trumpet, Dave Holland on bass and Kenny Garrett on saxophone.
A jazz symposium and tribute to Max Roach, the only surviving member of the five, will mark the anniversary.
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