Eric Dolphy (1928-1964)

“When you hear music, after it’s over, it’s gone, in the air, you can never capture it again.”- Eric Dolphy

To say that Eric Dolphy was simply a great saxophonist would be an understatement. Dolphy stretched the limits of what traditional bebop had to offer and bridged the way to avante-garde without totally ignoring chordal improvisation. Dolphy often experimented with, at the time, unique instrumentation by incorporating his expert flute and bass clarinet playing into his arrangements, which usually showcased his use of harmonic dissonance. Unfortunately, like many greats, Eric Dolphy died at the age of 36 from undiagnosed diabetes.







MP3: "Burning Spear"
by Eric Dolphy from Iron Man (Fresh Sound, 1963)
MP3: "Mambo Ricci"
by The Latin Jazz Quartet w/Eric Dolphy from Caribe (Prestige, 1961)