Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra – Afro

For an album recoded in 1954, this sounds unbelievably good. The jacket is full-on gloss both front and back and you get a small booklet with listening notes in bacteria-size print. Great tunes as well... the well-known "Manteca" has been written into a kind of suite and you also get "A Night in Tunisia" as well as a phenomenal version of "Caravan". Personally, I prefer Side 2 because of the smaller band. It sounds like something Herbie Mann would do a few years later. The big band sound is a little too shrill for me with all of those trumpets and their high- kamikaze missions over a Latin background blaring at full volume. This album should come with an aspirin. I love The Diz but, bloody hell, that big-band stuff, great as it is, just pierces my brain like a pitchfork. But that's just me. The pressing and mastering is outstanding. Dead quiet black vinyl with a cool, vintage, yellow "Norgran" (Norman Granz) label. I'm glad I got this, but I must not to listen to Side 1 through a pair of cans. WOAH... that's fierce.

I just got this for FREE from VMP and I couldn’t be happier. This pressing is amazing the sound quality and the jacket are both top notch. Vinyl is dead quiet and sounds amazing. Love the record of the month booklets for the classics as well.

what a beautiful piece of history right here. the music and pressing are both top top notch 👌

My copy was extremely quiet and had zero issues. Great pressing by RTI.

I was not familiar with the album, but it's great listen. VMP really nailed it in Q4 2002.

Side 2 with the small combo is recorded hotter and more upfront than side 1 with the large band. I'm sure that must be a product of the original tapes. Some of the horn bits on A Night in Tunisia will challenge the tracking ability of your stylus. Adjust accordingly. This is one of those historically significant recordings that is just a stunner from beginning to end.

Is this AAA? Just picked up a copy on the strength of the reviews below. I know the Blossom Dearie from this series was reportedly AAA but was confirmed otherwise. Would be nice if this one was.

holy shit; listen to candido go the fuck off on 'caravan'. pressing is excellent -- the recording does have its limitations, but great vibes throughout. gillespie's horn cuts through space like a scalpel.

Fantastic pressing. Dead quiet background. I agree with what all the others have said in regards to this great pressing. VMP hits another home run.

Have to agree with the other comments, this is an incredibly exciting record. As somebody noted below, imagine how this sounded live in 1954….VMP at their best.

Amazing that an album recorded in 1954 can sound this perfect in 2022. The quality of pressing you’d expect from RTI. While the recording may not quite stack up to later stuff recorded by RVG, I’m absolutely certain Ryan Smith got the most out of the tapes, and bloody hell does it smoke! No small feat capturing that many musicians blasting at that volume. Truly impressive.