by Scott YanowThis LP has been out of print so long that there is little point searching for it, though the sessions were reissued on Birk's Works: The Verve Big-Band Sessions. This set introduced the new Dizzy Gillespie big band which was making headlines for the acclaim it received (and for the excitement it caused) during its State Department-sponsored world tours. Sidemen at the time included trumpeter Joe Gordon (who got to take Gillespie's famous break on this version of "Night in Tunisia"), trombonist/arranger Melba Liston, altoist Phil Woods, pianist Walter Davis and tenors Ernie Wilkins and Billy Mitchell. On such classics as "Dizzy's Business," "Tour de Force," "Doodlin'" and "The Champ," this brilliant (and historic) orchestra really shows a great deal of spirit, power and creativity.