Eric Dolphy "Vintage Dolphy" (GM Recordings)

  1. Half Note Triplets
  2. Ode to Charlie Parker
  3. Iron Man
  4. Densities
  5. Night Music
  6. Variants on a theme by Thelonious Monk
  7. Intro and Theme
  8. Variant I
  9. Variant II
  10. Variant III
  11. Variant IV
  12. Abstraction
  13. Donna Lee
Yeah this is repackaged and remastered from the original Vintage Dolphy but wait, there's is a 17 minute unreleased performance of Gunther Schuller's "Variants on a Theme" by Thelonious Monk. Variant I is orchestral, straight ahead. Eric did another version with Ornette Coleman (it's on Ornette's Atlantic compilation). Eric really sounds Charlie Parker-ish on his alto sax. Variant II is light and abstract, Eric is on both alto sax and flute. Variant III picks up the jazzy thing again, this time with Eric on bass clarinet, nice duo and "talking" exchange with bass player midway in. Variant IV has walking bass, sprites of guitar and vibes, Eric fluttering on flute. Track 12 is classic jazz catching young Phil Woods, Benny Golson, Jimmy Knepper, don Elis, Nick Travis and Jim Hall #1 "Half Note Triplets" is tight, Eric is on bass clarinet. J. C. Moses is a very forceful drummer. #2 Eric makes a correction in the program as a Jaki Byard composition. He's on flute here, sounds like a bird. The trumpet is good. #3 is one of my favorite Dolphy compositions. Sounds a lot different than the large ensemble on the "Iron Man" release but nonetheless exciting. Eric on alto. #4 is a rare chances to hear Eric on B-flat clarinet. #4 is another abstract Schuller tune with a be-bop base. #5 start off with bass and light splatters of drum, guitar and Eric does a great bass clarinet solo.

This is a welcome recording for 1995.

Cat 11/95

http://kzsu.stanford.edu/~cathya/Playlists/reviews/Eric-Dolphy-Vintage-Dolphy.html