Record Reviews

ERIC DOLPHY ~ MUSICAL PROPHET: THE EXPANDED 1963 NEW YORK STUDIO SESSIONS RESONANCE 2035 (Barcode: 096802280498) ~ USA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 1963 - 1964 Released: 2018 This is an archival reissue album by the iconic American saxophonist / flautist / bass clarinetist / composer Eric DolphyFind albums by this artist, one of the most important pioneers of the Free Jazz revolution, which exploded in the 1960s. The 3CD album collects all the material that was recorded during the July 1 and July 3, 1963 sessions in New York, which produced the two legendary albums: “ConversationsFind albums with this title” and “Iron ManFind albums with this title”, expanded with a whole CD of previously unreleased alternate takes, two previously unreleased bonus tracks and one track from a later session. The July 1 session was recorded just with bassist Richard DavisFind albums by this artist, while the July 3 session featured a large group of musicians, including saxophonist Clifford JordanFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Woody ShawFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Bobby HutchersonFind albums by this artist, drummer Charles MoffettFind albums by this artist and others. As usual with the ResonanceFind albums on this label Records releases, the album includes an extensive booklet, which offers interviews, articles and splendid photographs. These recording sessions were almost the last time Dolphy was able to record, before his tragic and premature death in Berlin in June 1964 (he was only 36 years old at the time), followed only by his last recording, which produced the legendary album “Out To Lunch!Find albums with this title”, released on Blue NoteFind albums on this label Records. “Conversations” was the last album released during his lifetime, while “Iron Man” and “Out To Lunch!” were released posthumously. The music is of course absolutely sensational, both the duets with Davis and the larger ensemble tracks, some sounding still quite conventional but others already deeply into Improvised Music. Dolphy was an absolute virtuoso on all the three instruments he played, but his bass clarinet performances are, at least for me, most impressive, and sound today as fresh as they did six decades earlier. The duos with Davis are great examples of the “Art of the Duo” phenomenon, and their telepathic conversations are deeply moving. Overall, this is an excellent reissue, which collects the recordings done shortly before Dolphy’s death, and presents his genius in full view. Great sound quality and attractive packaging testify about the care and good taste by the record label, which does a great job in preserving great Jazz treasures.

Updated: 12/11/2025Posted: 12/11/2025

CD 3 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

DEXTER GORDON ~ THE COMPLETE COLUMBIA ALBUMS COLLECTION SONY 886979189126 (Barcode: 886979189126) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1976 - 1980 Released: 2011 The veteran American saxophonist / composer Dexter GordonFind albums by this artist was one of the Jazz icons with a career spanning half a century. He was one of the great Bebop pioneers and his playing over the years remained more or less within the Bebop tradition. Gordon recorded extensively as a sideman and as a leader, participating in many seminal Bebop recordings. Since the early 1960s he recorded for the legendary Blue NoteFind albums on this label label, creating some of his best work there. Gordon left the US for Europe, as did many other American musicians in the 1960s, where he lived for fifteen years, mostly in Paris and Copenhagen. He enjoyed the European way of life and cultural atmosphere, which was free from racial discrimination and admired Jazz. While living in Europe he continued to record for Blue Note and the Danish SteeplechaseFind albums on this label label. By the late 1960 he switched to the PrestigeFind albums on this label label in the US. Gordon finally returned to the US for good in 1976 and signed with ColumbiaFind albums on this label, where he recorded the last of his output before his death in 1990. He also started an acting career, with the most notable appearance in the "Round Midnight" movie, where he portrayed a heroin addicted saxophonist, roughly based on his own biography. Gordon´s Columbia releases started with the live recording of his homecoming concert at the legendary Village Vanguard in NY, and included three studio albums and one more live album recorded at Carnegie Hall. All these recordings expanded by numerous bonus tracks and a whole additional CD of bonus tracks are included in this lovely Box Set. The list of names of the accompanying musicians reads like the who´s who of the US mainstream Jazz scene of the 1970s, and includes trumpeter Woody ShawFind albums by this artist, pianists George CablesFind albums by this artist, Cedar WaltonFind albums by this artist, George DukeFind albums by this artist and others, vibraphonist Bobby HutchersonFind albums by this artist, bassist Rufus ReidFind albums by this artist and many others. Overall this is some of the finest American mainstream Jazz played in the Bebop tradition, with wonderful performances by first class players, heartwarming solos and great compositions. Any true Jazz lover will enjoy these classic recordings and having them collected in one neat package with bonus material and informative liner notes is all anybody could ask for. Definitely not to be missed!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 7 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

WARREN WOLF ~ CONVERGENCE MACK AVENUE 1105 (Barcode: 673203110526) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is an album by American vibraphonist / composer Warren WolfFind albums by this artist, recorded with a stellar lineup, which features pianist Brad MehldauFind albums by this artist (on five tunes), guitarist John ScofieldFind albums by this artist (on two tunes), bassist Christian McBrideFind albums by this artist and drummer Jeff WattsFind albums by this artist. It presents eleven tracks, six of which are original compositions by Wolf and five are standards (the last tune is a medley of a standard and a Classical piece). Sadly the stellar lineup is unable to save this album from the terrible boredom that it offers to the listener. In fact this album epitomizes everything that is wrong with American Jazz: it is outdated, unimaginable, derivative and simply tedious. The original compositions are unremarkable and the standards played here offer absolutely nothing that was not already stated thousands of times before. No ambition, no imagination, no effort… Of course these musicians can play, and they do play very well, but the result remains dull and unimpressive, similar to thousands of other mainstream American albums recorded every year and all sounding exactly the same. The two tracks with Scofield at least offer his remarkable power of expression, but that is by far not enough to save this album from complete failure. The funny thing is of course reading the reviews of this album, written by American critics (look them up). They all think this album is remarkable, outstanding and fabulous, which of course goes to show that the entire American Jazz scene is simply completely hypocritical and rotten. Saying that Wolf is the next Milt JacksonFind albums by this artist or Bobby HutchersonFind albums by this artist is an insult to these two great pioneers. Wolf plays well technically but his playing offers no innovation or progress which was the trademark of all great vibraphonists (or Jazz musicians in general) before him. In short this is just another boring American mainstream album, which sounds nice and lets the listener tap his feet to the steady rhythm, requiring zero intellectual effort to listen to the music, which simply washes off the listener´s mind instantly when the music is over.

Updated: 04/11/2016Posted: 04/11/2016

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend