VIDEO REVIEW : ‘A Night in Chicago’ Catches Dizzy Gillespie in Decline

Because Dizzy Gillespie’s stature in musical history is beyond dispute, it is sad to have to report that “A Night in Chicago,” a 53-minute cassette (View Video, $19.90) is an unfortunate reflection of a great artist in decline.

At this point in his career (presumably two or three years ago), what had long been his forte--a uniquely influential command of the trumpet--had been relegated to the back burner. On the first number, he starts out with a scat solo, then bangs a cowbell for a couple of choruses, stands around while other soloists perform, then picks up the horn for a solo that never quite attains the assurance and accuracy of earlier years.

Nor is this by any means one of his better groups. The tiresome, gimmicky baritone saxophone of Sayyd Abdul Al-Kabbyyr is a frequent irritant.

Gillespie is briefly effective in muted solos on “Embraceable You” and “ ‘Round Midnight,” and comes to life for a while in a 15-minute version of the concluding “Night in Tunisia.”

Bassist John Lee (the only sideman who stayed with Gillespie to the end) has a good solo, and the late Walter Davis Jr. on piano is adequate.

There are some moments to remember here, but the true magnificence of this seminal artist is rarely on display.