Larry Gillespie

Larry Gillespie and the Manhattan Jazz Orchestra: Contour

by Jack Bowers
June 1, 1999

Although Larry Gillespie shares his surname with another well–known trumpeter, his musical persona is modeled more closely after the quintessential West Coast snowman, Chet Baker. This extends, alas, to Gillespie’s fondness for singing, which he does — sort of — on “I Remember You” while scatting on “Contour” and the aptly named “Let’s Try.” The band’s other vocalist, Francina Connors, doesn’t fare appreciably better on “Too Close for Comfort,” “A Sleepin’ Bee” or Tadd Dameron’s “If You Could See Me ...