DIZZY GILLESPIE

In the ``Black Americans of Achievement'' series, an enjoyable, well-chronicled volume about a jazz great. Writing about Gillespie, of course, means simultaneously covering the various developments and innovations in jazz; this Gentry does with amiable ease. Be-bop, the founding of the Newport Jazz Festival, Gillespie's famous ``bent'' horn—even his run for President in 1964—all are placed in a context of hard work, impassioned early-morning jam sessions, ``hot'' clubs, and names like: Bird, Thelonius, Kenny Clarke. Readers will come away with a sense of admiration for these personalities as well as a wish to learn more about the art of jazz. Accessible and inviting, with an array of contemporary b&w photos. Appendix; chronology; further reading; index. (Biography. 10+)