4 Key Players in Dizzy Gillespie’s Newport Band

1. Wynton Kelly on piano Kelly’s fluid, bluesy comping was a staple of Gillespie’s mid-1950s sound.

2. Benny Golson on tenor saxophone Golson’s hard-bop style and later compositions like “I Remember Clifford” made him a standout.

3. Billy Mitchell on tenor saxophone Mitchell brought a robust, swinging tone that complemented Golson and Ernie Henry.

4. Ernie Henry on alto saxophone Henry’s sharp, bop-influenced lines added edge to the saxophone section.

The band performed a mix of bop and Afro-Cuban jazz at the Newport Jazz Festival.