ERIC DOLPHY
Prestige Profiles Vol. 5
Read
the Jazzitude piece about John Coltrane/Complete Village
Vanguard Recordings w/Eric Dolphy
Eric Dolphy only recorded for Prestige for
a seventeen month period that covered the years 1960 and
1961, yet he recorded thirteen sessions that resulted in
some seventeen Prestige releases. Some were as co-leader
or sideman, but most were as leader. That period was a very
fertile one in Dolphy’s development, and it was well
documented on the Complete Prestige Recordings box set.
However, this Prestige Profile entry gives a nice look at
some of the high points from Dolphy’s Prestige catalog.
Dolphy was already establishing himself as
a master multi-instrumentalist, as on the various tracks
included here we hear him on alto sax, bass clarinet, and
flute. In addition, he is demonstrating here his unique
voice as a composer (“Out There,” “Far
Cry,” “Serene,” “Miss Ann,”
and “G.W.” ) and as an arranger with interesting
ideas (“On Green Dolphin Street”). “G.W.”
is named for bandleader/arranger Gerald Wilson, a mentor
of Dolphy’s.
Dolphy’s fellow travelers on these sessions
are among some of the best jazz musicians of the period.
Ron Carter plays cello on the title track from Out There,
and Roy Haynes is the drummer. Freddie Hubbard and Jaki
Byard play on the superb arrangements of “On Green
Dolphi Street.” Booker Little is heard on several
tracks, including “Far Cry,” “Miss Ann,”
“Fire Waltz,” “Booker’s Waltz”
and “Status Seeking.” Richard Davis, a bassist
who always allows for a certain elasticity of rhythm and
time, plays on many of the tracks. More so than most other
Prestige sessions, Dolphy’s work for the label comes
off as more arranged and rehearsed, and less in the mold
of blowing sessions. But when it’s time for improvising,
these musicians are fully ready to meet the challenge. On
“Booker’s Waltz” Dolphy is getting bolder
on bass clarinet, throwing off some squawks and squeals
between runs.
This is a great introduction to Dolphy for
those who haven’t heard him much, or who have only
experienced him as a Coltrane sideman. There’s so
much to this musician who only lived to be 36. There’s
a lot here, from the performance side as well as the composition/arrangement
side that bears following up on.
Dolphy’s bonus disc features Sonny Rollins,
Booker Ervin, John Coltrane, Don Ellis, and some more Dolphy.
