Eric Dolphy At The Five Spot
A sonic odyssey that defied convention
Eric Dolphy At the Five Spot offers an exhilarating plunge into the heart of avant-garde Jazz, chronicling the groundbreaking performances of multi-instrumentalist Eric Dolphy and trumpeter Booker Little during their historic residency at the legendary Five Spot Jazz club in the heart of New York City. Recorded on a fateful summer evening, July 16, 1961, by the esteemed Rudy Van Gelder, these albums stand as a testament to the creative genius and improvisational prowess of two titans of the Jazz world at the zenith of their powers.
The quintet, featuring Dolphy on alto saxophone and bass clarinet, Booker Little on trumpet, and a stellar rhythm section comprising pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Ed Blackwell, embarked on a sonic odyssey that defied convention and expanded the boundaries of the genre. Across three volumes, listeners are treated to a mesmerizing tapestry of sounds, where raw emotion meets intricate harmonies in a spellbinding display of musical virtuosity.
“At the Five Spot, Vol. 1” thrusts listeners into the heart of the action with its opening salvo, “Fire Waltz,” a scorching inferno of Dolphy's searing alto and Little's haunting trumpet. Dolphy's impassioned solo on “Fire Waltz” is nothing short of revelatory, a torrent of emotion and invention that defies categorization. “Bee Vamp” follows suit, a relentless onslaught of hard bop fervor propelled by Blackwell's incendiary drumming and Dolphy's incisive bass clarinet. “The Prophet,” an original composition by Dolphy, stands as a poignant homage to artist Richard Jennings, shedding light on Dolphy's complex character and progressive intellect. This deeply personal piece offers a glimpse into Dolphy's multifaceted personality and forward-thinking approach to music.
“At the Five Spot, Vol. 2” delves deeper into the quintet's musical explorations, featuring extended renditions of Little's “Aggression” and the timeless classic “Like Someone in Love.” A third volume from this session, aptly titled the “Memorial Album,” emerged posthumously in 1965. It includes two tracks, “Number Eight (Potsa Lotsa)” and “Booker's Waltz,” which were later incorporated into Van Gelder's remaster of “At the Five Spot, Vol. 2”.
All these three volumes were reissued later as “The Great Concert of Eric Dolphy,” excluding alternate takes. Additionally, Mal Waldron's “Status Seeking” and Dolphy's solo interpretation of Billie Holiday's “God Bless The Child” were included in the Dolphy compilation “Here and There.” Dolphy's bass clarinet solo on “God Bless The Child” showcases his unparalleled mastery of the instrument, crafting a sinuous, untranscribable harmonic exercise that transcends the original rendition.
In the final analysis, Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot stands as a testament to the enduring power of Jazz as a vehicle for artistic expression and innovation. Through their fearless exploration of harmony and structure, Dolphy, Little, and their visionary quintet have left an indelible mark on the world of music, inspiring generations of musicians and listeners alike to push the boundaries of what is possible in Jazz and beyond. This epic club date is a must-have for all audacious and challenged listeners.
Keep listening, keep dreaming, keep swinging!