Eric Dolphy – Eric Dolphy At The Five Spot Vol. 1 (180g LP)

Label: OCJ 133 1st of 3 Classic Jazz Sessions At The Five Spot! Volume 1 finds the group provocatively interpreting the three originals “Fire Waltz” (Waldon), “Bee Vamp” (Little) and “The Prophet” (Dolphy), with both Dolphy and Little turning in bold and innovative performances throughout. Considering the fact Little passed only a few months removed from the date and Dolphy just three years later, makes its significance and strength of the material captured that much more rare and that much more special! Eric Dolphy, Booker Little, Mal Waldron, Richard Davis and Ed Blackwell had formed a cooperative group and, if Little had not died in October 1961, there is no doubt that it would have been a potent force in the music of the Sixties and beyond. Dolphy himself died in June 1964 after establishing himself as one of the important contemporary reedmen. Here his alto saxophone and bass clarinet and Little’s trumpet explore three originals: “The Prophet” by Dolphy, “Bee Vamp” by Little, and “Fire Waltz” by Waldron. It’s time caught in a bottle – music for the ages. “Most hail this first volume, and a second companion album from the same sessions, as music that changed the jazz world as much as Ornette Coleman and John Coltrane’s innovative excursions of the same era. All forward thinking and challenged listeners need to own these epic club dates. ” -Michael G. Nastos, allmusic.com Musicians: Eric Dolphy, bass clarinet, alto sax Booker Little, trumpet Mal Waldron, piano Richard Davis, bass Ed Blackwell, drums Selections: Side A: 1. Fire Waltz 2. Bee Vamp Side B: 1. The Prophet