Jazz for aficionados
Speaking of the "bass Clarinet", bought this album "Kalenia" by Oran Etkin that has two of my favorite instruments; bass clarinet, and balaphon, a West African instrument. This CD is so unusual that it takes more than one listen to get into it, but it's well worth it. Here's Oran Etkin; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rocYxIkcA4s Enjoy the music. |
I've noticed that Eric sounds best as a sideman to me. There are a number of musicians I liked very much on other records led by someone else. On baritone sax there is Pepper Adams with Donald Byrd, and also with Mingus, who was absolutely fantastic; but I don't have the same opinion of albums where he led. That is also true for Eric; I liked him with Mingus, and he also has blown some brilliant solos with other musicians such as Oliver Nelson on "Blues And The Abstract Truth". He blows alto, and flute on "Stolen Moments", one of the most beautiful tunes in all of jazz. Eric's flute solo puts this tune over the top. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbaGDDbpcQ4 It was so unfortunate and tragic, what happened in Germany, just when all was going to come together for Eric Dolphy. Enjoy the music. |
Very glad to see discussion of Eric Dolphy; a player who definitely pushed the envelope of modern jazz into post-hardbop avant-garde and I'm not sure there would have been as much interest here three years ago. To my ears, he was one of the few avant-garde players who, at no point in his improvisations, am I tempted to say "this is bs". He had his own musical vocabulary and was a much more accomplished instrumentalist than many avant-garde players. He was particularly accomplished on alto saxophone and bass clarinet; somewhat less so on flute with a less developed tone than on the other two instruments, but not to the point that he couldn't be fully expressive. I really like Ghosthouse's description of his style: ****Dolphy reminds me of Stravinsky/Schoenberg/Webern...very angular compositions; "post-romantic" if be-bop can be considered "romantic".**** I feel differently about his playing as a sideman vs leader. To my ears his work as a sideman is excellent and very distinctive, but it is his work a leader that fully expresses his voice. It isn't surprising that for anyone who can take Dolphy on a limited basis his work as a sideman would be preferred; it is generally a little more "inside", and hence more accessible, than his work as leader in which he generally takes it farther into the avant-garde. "Out To Lunch" is a brilliant record and probably his best record. The earlier and appropriately titled "Out There" is another great one: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MOhKYOQK-d His flute work on this is great: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s4GdwJODLbI |
