Dizzy Gillespie was introduced to Chano Pozo in 1947 by Mario Bauza. Both became life-long friends and Dizzy and Chano Pozo developed Afro-Cuban jazz, which became extremely successful, atrtracting people to dance to its unique rhythms. Gillespie's most famous contributions to Afro-Cuban music are the compositions “Manteca” and "Tin Tin Deo".

Machito’s Afro Cubans (formed in 1940), the creators of Cu-Bop, were a major influence on musicians like Dizzy Gillespie. Dizzy loved it so much, that in 1975, he invited Machito’s son, Mario Grillo or Machito Jr., to join Dizzy’s band for the recording of ‘Afro-Cuban Jazz Moods’.

So it only makes sense to have him join the Dizzy Gillespie™ Afro Cuban Experience under the direction of John Lee, Dizzy’s long-time bassist, and the director of the Dizzy Gillespie™ Big Band.