Straight up and down (Eric Dolphy) (LP 2620 - 2621)

Keith Jarrett  Eyes Of The Heart (Vinyl, ECM Records, 1979) ****  

Eric Dolphy  Out To Lunch! (Vinyl, Blue Note Records, 1964) ****  

Genre: Jazz 

Places I remember: My Music Taupo

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Eyes Of The Heart (part 1)

Gear costume: Out To Lunch (Eric Dolphy)

Active compensatory factors: Eyes Of The Heart is a live album (from a concert in Austria) featuring Keith Jarrett on piano (obviously) and soprano sax (less obviously).

He is joined by three brilliant musicians: Paul Motian on drums; Charlie Haden on bass, and Dewey Redman on tenor sax. All three have a sizable catalogue of their own albums.

I was thrilled to find a copy of this in the secondhand bins at My Music Taupo. It's an unusual record - three sides are from the live concert and the fourth side is blank.

It's basically two songs - Eyes Of The Heart takes over the first two sides and Encore is on side 3. Both start off in one direction but each one twists, turns, and launches off in different directions. I was hooked from the start of the title track.

Out To Lunch! is a jazz classic from the year of Beatlemania and, previously, a glaring omission from my collection. Interestingly, it's his only album for Blue Note as a leader.

It's a challenging album to listen in some regards but, like Trout Mask Replica, when you settle in and accept that Dolphy is doing his free form thing and don't fight it, the music opens up. Multiple listens are required. I can see myself coming back to this one many times for the interplay between the instruments. 

Normally, I find the trumpet and vibes a challenge, but Freddy Hubbard and Bobby Hutcherson respectively, embellish Dolphy's bass clarinet and alto sax brilliantly.

Where do they all belong? A couple of great additions to my jazz collection.

My favourite things (Rodgers and Hammerstein) (LP 2385)

John Coltrane with Eric Dolphy  Evenings At the Village Gate (CD, Impulse! Records, 2023) *****  

Genre: Jazz 

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Greensleeves

Gear costume: Africa

Active compensatory factors: The back story on this one is pretty interesting. Recorded in 1961 and undiscovered for years. Wow!

This is firey, explosive, cutting edge, seat of your pants, OMG jazz.

All the musicians are masters and all are unbelievable on this album. In fact, I'd hazard to say that Eric Dolphy is actually overshadowed by the rest.

McCoy Tyner is superb - whenever he's given space, he takes off, Reggie Workman (and Art Davis) are endlessly inventive on bass, and Elvin Jones - words fail to describe his singular genius. 

Listening to this is incredible - it's mouth open, what just happened?, OMG, I can't believe it - all the way, during four compositions.

Greensleeves is a favourite of mine - ever since I heard it on a compilation album as a teenager. The version here is sublime. 

Where do they all belong? Coltrane. A freak!