Search - Eric Dolphy :: Outward Bound: Rudy Van Gelder Remasters

April fool's!

Matthew Watters | Vietnam | 12/24/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Due to the sad circumstances of his early death, a sort of earnest gravity always seems to surround the work of Eric Dolphy, or discussions of it anyway. That makes this album--along with Dolphy's many musical "conversations" with Charles Mingus--a welcome reminder of how witty and sly Dolphy could be. Fittingly, the music here was recorded on April Fool's Day in 1960, with another musical comedian (and Mingus veteran), Jaki Byard, proving a superb prankster-at-arms. The music here joyfully sends up everything from the "new thing" of Ornette Coleman to the stately seriousness of the Miles Davis Quintet. The band here even does a humourous deconstruction of the Davis group's beloved "On Green Dolphin Street." The Coleman-like Dolphy originals like "Les" and "G.W." will get your feet moving and erase any idea that "avant garde" has to mean "self-important". Throughout, drummer Roy Haynes is his usual, tasteful self, and only trumpet player Freddie Hubbard doesn't seem to be entirely in on the joke, playing with an earnestness that makes the rest of the proceedings all the funnier. Outward Bound is a joyous record that takes all the jazz styles then current and takes them for a ride."

Dolphy and hubbard

Case Quarter | CT USA | 01/31/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"dolphy and hubbard on green dolphin street. dolphy and hubbard trading licks on les. on 245 first hubbard followed by dolphy put down brilliant blues improvisations. eric dolphy backed by george tucker on bass and roy haynes on drums plays a beautiful flute rendition of glad to be unhappy. and the remaining tunes g w and miss toni fill out the recording nicely. jackie byard is on piano."

A Stellar album from one of the great's.......

Gregory Gross | Columbus, Ohio United States | 12/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Eric Dolphy is one of this countries least appreciated genius, and his music and performances continue to awe and inspire. Mastering alto sax is a job in itself, but to add clarinet and flute to his arsenal is quite an accomplishment. Eric Dolphy has to be heard to be "understood". Words simply won't do."