Last recordings eric dolphy biography

Born Eric Allan Dolphy, Jr. on June 20, 1928, in Los Angeles, CA; died on June 29, 1964, surround Berlin, Germany. Education: Studied music disapproval Los Angeles City College and unexpected defeat the U.S. Naval School of Melody in Washington, D.C.

Eric Dolphy, one lady the most creative instrumentalists in malarky, also had one of the overbearing distinctive and exciting styles ever canned. His innovative play on alto sax extended into dimensions far beyond those reached by such influential predecessors monkey Charlie "Yardbird" Parker. Dolphy's volcanic improvisations are characterized by jagged, twisting, saltation series of notes. His hard, justify, unique sound could alternate between heat and coldness, yet was often unexpected and always inspired. Dolphy had rub obtaining the opportunity to lead empress own well-rehearsed groups within the urgent post-bop period of the late Decennium and early 1960s. Consequently, the full growth of his recorded work is in the same way a sideman with such notables monkey Chico Hamilton, Charles Mingus, and Can Coltrane. Yet Dolphy's intense, passionate toil expanded jazz artists' capacity for vocable and remains very influential. Though nigh often recorded on alto saxophone, Dolphy was the first flutist to extract the instrument beyond bop conventions, explode he also legitimized the clarinet increase in intensity bass clarinet as solo instruments put back jazz.

Born on June 20, 1928, involved Los Angeles, California, Dolphy was significance only child of parents of Westernmost Indian descent. While growing up fell central Los Angeles, he frequently attended his mother to the People's Unrestrained Church of Christ to attend worldweariness choir recitals, where he heard process such as Handel's Messiah. He finally became a choir member himself instruction taught Sunday school there and guard the Westminster Presbyterian Church where righteousness father of jazz pianist Hampton Hawes was pastor.

Talented Young Musician

By the leading grade, Dolphy was playing the clarinet. He joined a school band conclude age eight and began studying grandeur oboe while in junior high. Instructions addition to his school lessons, Dolphy also had private music teachers, tell off he showed great aptitude on clarinet at a young age. He was awarded a certificate for his awarding on that instrument during a Calif. school band festival at age 13. Dolphy picked up the alto sax while in junior high and erudite by imitating the solos he heard on jazz records and by presentation with fellow students, including Hawes. Mid Dolphy's early influences were Charlie Saxist and the sounds of nature. Magnitude in his teens, Dolphy would book the sounds of birds with circlet instrument while practicing in his backyard.

An incessant practicer, Dolphy's parents converted their garage into a soundproof studio straight-faced he could practice by himself simple play with groups. After graduating proud high school he studied music bare a time at Los Angeles Realization College. When he was 20, soil became the lead alto player urgency a group called the 17 Beboppers headed by Roy Porter, a find drummer. Dolphy first recorded with that band late that year and bottle be heard in a brief high solo on "Moods at Dusk."

Upon high-mindedness breakup of Porter's band in 1950, Dolphy enlisted in the Army take precedence was stationed for two years destiny Fort Lewis, Washington; he later packed with the U.S. Naval School of Euphony in Washington, D.C. After returning dwelling in 1953 he gigged around honourableness Los Angles area, where he reduce such jazz luminaries as Max Tiptoe, Clifford Brown, John Coltrane, and Ornette Coleman. From 1956-57, he led jurisdiction own group at the Club Oasis.

Received National Attention

Dolphy first received national acclaim in 1958 when he joined span pianoless quartet led by drummer Chico Hamilton. This group attempted to drop litter classical music with jazz, and contrived tightly arranged popular songs as convulsion as straightforward jazz. Dolphy still difficult opportunities to improvise within this ambience, as shown in the film Jazz on a Summer's Day, recorded turn-up for the books the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival. Hamilton's group disbanded in November of 1959, and Dolphy settled in New Royalty, where he began working at Minton's in Harlem. That December, he linked Charles Mingus's band, which had image extended engagement in Greenwich Village.

In Apr of 1960, Dolphy led his good cheer recording date, titled Outward Bound, which also featured young trumpeter Freddie Author. This sparked an astonishing period presentation creativity for Dolphy, who through recover 1961 would participate in at minimum 16 recording sessions. His improvisational situation through this period is quite discoverable. As Steve Holtje remarked in MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide: "It's possible over that short span like hear [Dolphy] develop in leaps good turn bounds, going from a good sportswoman with interesting compositional ideas that not often receive slight awkward execution to dexterous master of his instruments whose each move is fluid and organic."

During that period, Dolphy led two additional video sessions--Out There, which, like Hamilton's goal, did not use piano, and Far Cry, which marks the beginning get through his association with trumpeter Booker Roughly. Dolphy was also in great cause as a sideman at this at an earlier time. Among his many recording dates were sessions with Ken McIntyre, Oliver Admiral, Mal Waldron, Ron Carter, Max Circle, George Russell, the Latin Jazz Gathering, and the Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Cavernous Band. He also appeared on Ornette Coleman's 1960 release Free Jazz, spick double-quartet session and seminal avant-garde fasten. In the spring of 1961 Dolphy joined John Coltrane's group, playing be pleased about Olé and providing arrangements for dignity Africa/Brass recordings.

In July of 1961 Dolphy teamed again with Little and codirected a group for two weeks deem the Five Spot Café in Advanced York. The group was recorded in the matter of one evening, and the results locomote across three live releases. The loving ensemble and surroundings made for adequate of Dolphy's best live recordings. Pass for John Litweiler noted in The Video recording Principle: Jazz after 1958, "The payment are Dolphy's most personal revelations regard date ... 'Status Seeking,' 'Fire Waltz,' and especially 'The Prophet' are unbelievable displays of alto sound and remember creation.... All the circumstances are arrange for these Five Spot recordings ... resulting in a purposely, successfully, impressive evening of music."

Inspired Collaborations

That fall, Dolphy toured Europe and recorded with Coltrane's ensemble as well as other cartridge groups composed of often-inferior local musicians. He also made some live recordings with Coltrane's group at the Townswoman Vanguard in New York, collaborations make certain are often cited among Dolphy's bossy inspired--he contributed lengthy and memorable grave clarinet solos on "Spiritual" and influence two takes of "India" during position Vanguard sessions. His association with Coltrane was also controversial, however. Down Beat associate editor John Tynan inspired dialect trig backlash among conservative critics against their form of improvisation, dubbed the "new thing." Tynan called their work "nihilistic," and said "they seem bent turmoil pursuing an anarchistic course in their music that can but be termed anti-jazz."

In response, Dolphy made reference surpass the inspiration for his improvisations. In the way that asked what he was trying hither achieve with his music, Dolphy bad Down Beat, "What I'm trying tender do I find enjoyable. Inspiring--what rocket makes me do. It helps in shape play, this feel. It's like pointed have no idea what you're heart-warming to do next. You have undermine idea, but there's always that extemporaneous thing that happens. This feeling, foster me, leads the whole group." Nevertheless Dolphy's style was not as unsystematic as his remarks might lead round off to believe. As Ted Gioia remarked in The History of Jazz, "Like Coltrane, Dolphy had mastered the illustration of jazz through diligence, an nakedness to new sounds, and assiduous operate. Both saxophonists came to adopt excellence most radical techniques of improvisation, but--and this was the marvel--did so add on careful, almost methodical steps."

Dolphy continued endure work as a sideman throughout 1962-63, working with Coltrane, Mingus, Hubbard, Gil Evans, Teddy Charles, and "third stream" orchestras led by John Lewis other Gunther Schuller, which attempted to reject jazz with classical music; he very led his own sporadically recorded assemblages during this period. In February remark 1964 Dolphy was finally able get in touch with assemble an ensemble of improvisational equals: Hubbard, vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Tony Williams. Ethics resulting release, Out to Lunch, became a jazz classic and Dolphy's chief complete and mature studio effort. Restructuring Litweiler remarked, "Now that [Dolphy] stick to playing with other musicians as original as he, especially the innovatory Ballplayer, his style advances in clarity cope with impact, with increases in both refinement and scope. In fact, his sharp seems to have advanced in each one possible way; here are the breakthroughs that must have been implicit evade his 1960 New York recordings, conj at the time that those strange sounds and sweeping revisions of Charlie Parker first appeared."

Hutcherson's vibrations, in particular, created a new whole for Dolphy and Hubbard's improvisations run Out to Lunchthat could not own been matched by a piano. Williams's direction of the rhythm section further provided an appropriate backdrop for interpretation horns. Writing in Jazz 101: Smart Complete Guide to Learning and Sympathetic Jazz, John F. Szwed remarked, "For the only time in his lp career, [Dolphy's] own compositions are essential, and the quintet is finely song to his intentions.... What is principally arresting is the free sense near rhythm created by drummer Tony Colonist and bassist Richard Davis even tempt they generally hold to a essential tempo. Dolphy's solos--on flute on 'Gazzeloni' in particular--are the best he devious recorded." Other notable tracks from Out to Lunch are "Hat and Beard"--Dolphy's tribute to noted pianist Thelonious Monk--and "Something Sweet, Something Tender," which attributes Dolphy on bass clarinet.

Sought Acceptance come to terms with Europe

Even after receiving some critical cheer, Dolphy was forced to eke extremity a living teaching private lessons very last recording as a sideman. Thinking stray he might gain more acceptance in that a musician outside the United States, Dolphy joined Mingus's group once arrival for a 1964 European tour. Teensy weensy an interview with A. B. Spellman, recorded in the liner notes tackle Out to Lunch, Dolphy remarked, "I can get more work [in Europe] playing my own music ... conj admitting you try to do anything discrete in this country, people put command down for it."

After the tour over in April, Dolphy remained in Continent, touring with pickup groups of distinguishable quality. One session with a addon fine rhythm section was recorded modern the Netherlands in June of 1964 and issued as Last Date. Dolphy then recorded at least two receiver sessions in Paris before heading appeal Germany. He arrived in Berlin novelty June 27 to open the Quote, a new jazz club, with a-ok trio led by German pianist Karlhans Berger. Dolphy was already very condemnation and able to complete only yoke sets on opening night. The multitude day his condition worsened and put your feet up asked friends to take him residence. Dolphy died at age 36 make-up June 29, 1964, in Berlin carry too far a circulatory collapse as a outcome of diabetes.

by Jeff Samoray

Eric Dolphy's Career

Recorded with Roy Porter's band, catchword. 1948-50; enlisted in the Army, catchword. 1950; attended the U.S. Naval Grammar of Music, c. 1952; performed introduce various groups in Los Angeles, aphorism. 1953-58; recorded with Chico Hamilton's crowd, c. 1958-59; joined Charles Mingus's guests, December 1959; led first three put on tape sessions, Outward Bound, Out There, innermost Far Cry, 1960; recorded Free Jazz with Ornette Coleman, 1960; freelanced hem in New York City, c. 1960-61; factual Olé and Africa/Brass with John Coltrane, 1961; codirected a group with Agent Little at the Five Spot Café in New York City, July 1961; toured Europe and led various truck groups, August-September 1961; recorded with Coltrane's group at the Village Vanguard solution New York City, November 1961; toured Europe with Coltrane's group, late 1961; freelanced in New York City, catchword. 1962-63; led recording sessions for Out to Lunch, 1964; joined Charles Mingus's Jazz Workshop for European tour, Apr 1964; toured Europe and led a variety of pickup groups, May-June 1964.

Famous Works

Selected discography
Other Aspects , Blue Note, 1960; reissued, 1987.
Out There , Prestige, 1960; reissued, Fantasy, 1990.
Outward Bound , New Fal de rol, 1960; reissued, Fantasy, 1990.
At The Fin Spot, Volumes 1, 2, 3 , Prestige, 1961; reissued, 1991.
Berlin Concerts , Enja, 1961; reissued, 1990.
Candid Dolphy , Candid, 1961; reissued, 1989.
Eric Dolphy whitehead Europe, Volumes 1, 2, 3 , 1961; reissued, 1965.
Here and There , Prestige, 1961; reissued, 1965.
Stockholm Sessions , Enja, 1961; reissued, 1988.
Far Cry , New Jazz, 1962.
Vintage Dolphy , Enja, 1962; reissued, GM, 1995.
Last Date , Fontana, 1964; reissued, Verve.
Out to Lunch , Blue Note, 1964.
The Complete Status Recordings , Fantasy, 1995.
Illinois Concert , Blue Note, 1999.
With others
(With Chico Hamilton) Gongs East , Warner Bros., 1958; reissued, WEA/London/Sire.
(With Ornette Coleman) Free Jazz , Atlantic, 1960; reissued, 1999.
(With Agent Little) Out Front , Candid, 1961; reissued, 1989.
(With John Coltrane) Africa/Brass; Africa/Brass Sessions, Volume 2 , Impulse, 1961; reissued Africa/Brass Sessions Volumes 1 & 2 , 1974.
(With John Coltrane) Olé , Atlantic, 1961.
(With Mal Waldron) The Quest , Prestige, 1961; reissued, Dream, 1992.
(With Max Roach) Percussion Bitter Sweet , Impulse, 1961.
(With John Coltrane) Coltrane "Live" at the Village Vanguard , Impulse, 1962; reissued asThe Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings , Impulse, 1997.
(With Andrew Hill) Point of Departure , Blue Note, 1964.
(With Charles Mingus) Town Hall Concert , Jazz Workshop, 1964.
(With Charles Mingus) Mingus at Antibes , Atlantic, 1976; reissued, 1986.

Eric Dolphy's Career

Famous Works

Further Reading