Dolphy possessed one of the most unique voices in the jazz world. Talented as an alto saxophonist, flautist, and bass clarinetist, Dolphy could play in the hard-bop, avant garde, third stream, and free jazz styles of the 1950s and 1960s. For example, Dolphy played as a sideman for jazz greats such as John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, George Russell, Max Roach, and of course recorded many gems himself as the leader of his own sessions. Unfortunately, many may not enjoy his unique solo voice, which often emulates the cries, shouts, and tones of the human voice. Dolphy often sounds too jarring for some ears, but to each his own, right?
Max Roach's "Man from South Africa" is an anti-apartheid song using Latin rhythms and the blues form. Composed by drummer Max Roach, Dolphy takes the song into interesting directions with his fiery sax solo.
http://grooveshark.com/s/Man+From+South+Africa/2yj3uT?src=5
http://grooveshark.com/s/Man+From+South+Africa/2yj3uT?src=5
"Brazilia" live with John Coltrane is one of my favorites, though Dolphy doesn't get as much time to shine as Coltrane and pianist McCoy Tyner. Furtermore, any song that juxtaposes the improvisations of both Coltrane and Dolphy is a masterpiece.
Here is Coltrane's "Spiritual, which uses a rare version of "Nobody Knows The Trouble I See, a Negro Spiritual that dates back to the Civil War era, if not earlier. Dolphy's bass clarinet solo is majestic, and because the bass clarinet is seldom used in jazz. In addition to Dolphy's fine bass clarinet, McCoy Tyner lays down the law with his piano and Elvin Jones maintains the rhythm expertly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPTMVQrKi98 Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=aDAhZ3XQC58 Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPTMVQrKi98 Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=aDAhZ3XQC58 Part 2
John Coltrane's "India" is another song featuring fine work from Eric Dolphy on bass clarinet. Mixing the bass clarinet with Indian raga? An excellent idea!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztDKYI6tVjk
"Ole" by John Coltrane is another Eric Dolphy favorite. Dolphy plays flute on this Spanish-inspired piece, which takes its melody from "Anda Jaleo," a Spanish flameno number which became an anthem for the Quinto Regimiento during the Spanish Civil War.
http://grooveshark.com/s/Ol+/2rMIDB?src=5 "Ole"
"Dahomey Dance" by Coltrane is a great blues workout piece featuring Dolphy again. His unique voice once again triumphs and in my humble opinion surpasses Freddie Hubbard and Coltrane's solos.
http://grooveshark.com/s/Dahomey+Dance/3P8dw2?src=5 "Dahomey Dance"
McCoy Tyner's "Aisha" also features Dolphy's saxophone playing, which doesn't exactly match the romantic mood of the ballad.
http://grooveshark.com/s/Aisha/3LwuoZ?src=5 John Coltrane, "Aisha" (from the Ole Coltrane album)
Coltrane's "Africa" also features arrangement and flute contributions from Eric Dolphy and McCoy Tyner
http://grooveshark.com/s/Africa/2I56bp?src=5 "Africa"
Oliver Nelson's "Stolen Moments" is another standout featuring Eric Dolphy's flute. The song is from an album which is a brilliant exploration of the blues form in jazz.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I777BcgQL9o
"Miles Mode" is either a John Coltrane or Eric Dolphy composition. Regardless, Dolphy plays alto sax on this live Coltrane recording.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imcloFWi8KE&feature=related
George Russell's version of "Round Midnight" features Dolphy at his best. Amazing interpretation of Thelonious Monk's astounding jazz standard. From the haunting intro to Dolphy's solo, this ranks as one of my favorite jazz songs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OILL0185laQ George Russell Sextet featuring Eric Dolphy
Charles Mingus recorded a shorter version of his "Haitian Fight Song" in the 1960s, which featured Eric Dolphy. Here it is!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWmE8T09-G4
Mingus's "Freedom" also features Dolphy. Explosive and revolutionary jazz directly connecting itself to the Civil Rights Movement and politics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23sah6aWk3A
Charles Mingus playing a Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn standard, "Take the A Train." Dolphy played with the Mingus Sextet right before his death.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcCJ8vzoiPY
Charles Mingus and Dolphy playing "So Long, Eric," which was a farewell to Dolphy who was leaving the group soon. An epic blues piece.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtLDeUON2fk&playnext=1&list=PL727228D82F287E11 Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=dP8ltVnER7s&feature=BFa&list=PL727228D82F287E11&index=9 Part 2
Dolphy loved Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child" and he performed it live many times on bass clarinet. It sounds very 'angular' and dissonant, yet beautiful at the same time. I'm sure it will be too jarring for some though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPPbeaSH15w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYJ_4vSruog A shorter version
Coltrane and Dolphy playing "My Favorite Things" live, Dolphy on flute
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq2FTCcd5DM&feature=related
Eric Dolphy playing a beautiful jazz ballad, "Sketches of Melba," on flute.
http://grooveshark.com/s/Sketch+Of+Melba/45lwyz?src=5
Max Roach's "Tender Warriors" has some great fltue playing from Dolphy
http://grooveshark.com/s/Tender+Warriors/3ytHiY?src=5
Mingus's "Original Fables of Faubus" has some great Dolphy soloing
http://grooveshark.com/s/Original+Faubus+Fables/2saybK?src=5
Dolphy's "17 West is a jazz flute workout." I like it because it was sampled by A Tribe Called Quest.
http://grooveshark.com/s/17+West/45lAnj?src=5
Dolphy's "Straight Up and Down" is a bouncy, avant garde jazz composition. Interesting vibes and angular melody.
http://grooveshark.com/s/Straight+Up+And+Down+rudy+Van+Gelder+Edition+1999+Digital+Remaster+/2x6vgY?src=5
"Out to Lunch" is another essential avant garde jazz listen.
http://grooveshark.com/s/Out+To+Lunch+rudy+Van+Gelder+Edition+1999+Digital+Remaster+/2x6uIx?src=5
"Something Sweet, Something Tender" is one of Dolphy's stronger ballads.
http://grooveshark.com/s/Something+Sweet+Something+Tender+rudy+Van+Gelder+Edition+1999+Digital+Remaster+/2x6tUW?src=5
"Hat and Beard" is a tribute to Thelonious Monk and one of Dolphy's best compositions
http://grooveshark.com/s/Hat+And+Beard+rudy+Van+Gelder+Edition+1999+Digital+Remaster+/2x6txX?src=5
"Fire Waltz" is another favorite Dolphy piece of mine, recorded live
http://grooveshark.com/s/Fire+Waltz/2Ho1tk?src=5
"Tenderly" is a saxophone solo piece just for Eric Dolphy.
http://grooveshark.com/s/Tenderly/3ybFhe?src=5
"Out There" is very 'out there' for a jazz song, using a cello, for instance! Still, it swings.
http://grooveshark.com/s/Out+There/3jjMcW?src=5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcCJ8vzoiPY
Charles Mingus and Dolphy playing "So Long, Eric," which was a farewell to Dolphy who was leaving the group soon. An epic blues piece.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtLDeUON2fk&playnext=1&list=PL727228D82F287E11 Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=dP8ltVnER7s&feature=BFa&list=PL727228D82F287E11&index=9 Part 2
Dolphy loved Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child" and he performed it live many times on bass clarinet. It sounds very 'angular' and dissonant, yet beautiful at the same time. I'm sure it will be too jarring for some though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPPbeaSH15w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYJ_4vSruog A shorter version
Coltrane and Dolphy playing "My Favorite Things" live, Dolphy on flute
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq2FTCcd5DM&feature=related
Eric Dolphy playing a beautiful jazz ballad, "Sketches of Melba," on flute.
http://grooveshark.com/s/Sketch+Of+Melba/45lwyz?src=5
Max Roach's "Tender Warriors" has some great fltue playing from Dolphy
http://grooveshark.com/s/Tender+Warriors/3ytHiY?src=5
Mingus's "Original Fables of Faubus" has some great Dolphy soloing
http://grooveshark.com/s/Original+Faubus+Fables/2saybK?src=5
Dolphy's "17 West is a jazz flute workout." I like it because it was sampled by A Tribe Called Quest.
http://grooveshark.com/s/17+West/45lAnj?src=5
Dolphy's "Straight Up and Down" is a bouncy, avant garde jazz composition. Interesting vibes and angular melody.
http://grooveshark.com/s/Straight+Up+And+Down+rudy+Van+Gelder+Edition+1999+Digital+Remaster+/2x6vgY?src=5
"Out to Lunch" is another essential avant garde jazz listen.
http://grooveshark.com/s/Out+To+Lunch+rudy+Van+Gelder+Edition+1999+Digital+Remaster+/2x6uIx?src=5
"Something Sweet, Something Tender" is one of Dolphy's stronger ballads.
http://grooveshark.com/s/Something+Sweet+Something+Tender+rudy+Van+Gelder+Edition+1999+Digital+Remaster+/2x6tUW?src=5
"Hat and Beard" is a tribute to Thelonious Monk and one of Dolphy's best compositions
http://grooveshark.com/s/Hat+And+Beard+rudy+Van+Gelder+Edition+1999+Digital+Remaster+/2x6txX?src=5
"Fire Waltz" is another favorite Dolphy piece of mine, recorded live
http://grooveshark.com/s/Fire+Waltz/2Ho1tk?src=5
"Tenderly" is a saxophone solo piece just for Eric Dolphy.
http://grooveshark.com/s/Tenderly/3ybFhe?src=5
"Out There" is very 'out there' for a jazz song, using a cello, for instance! Still, it swings.
http://grooveshark.com/s/Out+There/3jjMcW?src=5
"Feathers" is another strong jazz ballad
http://grooveshark.com/s/Feathers/2EzgY9?src=5
"Ode to Charlie Parker" http://grooveshark.com/s/Ode+To+Charlie+Parker/3wfdxe?src=5
"Mrs. Parker of K.C." is another tribute to Charlie Parker, though using the blues form in this case. Ron Carter's cello solo in this song is sampled by Del The Funkee Homosapien
http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/mrs.+parker+of+kc I found this site in order to actually play the song
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