Eric Dolphy At The Five Spot

This is the second volume that document the Eric Dolphy/Booker Little quintet's playing at the Five Spot. It features a group made up of pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Ed Blackwell really stretching out during long versions of Little's "Aggression" and the standard "Like Someone in Love." Dolphy's playing - whether on alto, bass clarinet, or flute - always defied categorization, while Little (who passed away less than three months later) was the first new voice on the trumpet to emerge after Clifford Brown's death in 1956. An excellent set that records what may have been Dolphy's finest group ever, as well as one of that era's best working bands.

After having left the ensemble of Charles Mingus and upon working with John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy formed a short-lived but potent quintet with trumpeter Booker Little, who would pass away three months after this recording. Despite all of the obstacles and subsequent tragedy, this quintet became legendary over the years - justifiably so - and developed into a role model for all progressive jazz combos to come. The combined power of Dolphy and Little - exploring overt but in retrospect not excessive dissonance and atonality - made them a target for critics but admired among the burgeoning progressive post-bop scene. With the always stunning shadings of pianist Mal Waldron, the classical-cum-daring bass playing of Richard Davis, and the colorful drumming of alchemistic Ed Blackwell, there was no stopping this group…

Part of the ultimate audiophile Prestige stereo reissues from Analogue Productions — 25 of the most collectible, rarest, most audiophile-sounding Rudy Van Gelder recordings ever made. All cut at 33 1/3 and also released on Hybrid SACD. All mastered from the original analog master tapes by mastering maestro Kevin Gray.

Eric Dolphy - At The Five Spot, Vol. 1 (1961) {Prestige VDJ 1504, Japan Early Press}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 341 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 128 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 64 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1961, 1985 Prestige / Victor Japan | VDJ 1504
Jazz / Hard Bop / Saxophone / Clarinet

After having left the ensemble of Charles Mingus and upon working with John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy formed a short-lived but potent quintet with trumpeter Booker Little, who would pass away three months after this recording. Despite all of the obstacles and subsequent tragedy, this quintet became legendary over the years – justifiably so – and developed into a role model for all progressive jazz combos to come. The combined power of Dolphy and Little – exploring overt but in retrospect not excessive dissonance and atonality – made them a target for critics but admired among the burgeoning progressive post-bop scene.

Eric Dolphy - At The Five Spot, Vol. 2 (1961) {Prestige VDJ 1525, Japan Early Press}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 256 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 100 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 64 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1961, 1985 Prestige / Victor Japan | VDJ 1525
Jazz / Hard Bop / Flute / Bass Clarinet

The historic Eric Dolphy/Booker Little quintet that helped to change the face of mainstream modern jazz has a second volume of their legendary live performances at the Five Spot Cafe issued, including two previously unreleased bonus tracks from the original LP. This release is further proof why this ensemble was an important stylistic bridge between the Ornette Coleman and John Coltrane quartets. The incredibly visceral, extroverted sound Dolphy extracts from his alto sax, flute, and especially bass clarinet is something to behold, while the rest of the group follows suit in supporting the wayward notions of their leader while not standing in perhaps the shock and awe of him, as were the patrons in attendance must have been that night.

Digitally re-mastered two CD collection containing the complete recordings by the Eric Dolphy Quintet with Booker Little made live at the Five Spot Café in 1961. This material originally appeared on three separate LPs (Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot Vols. 1 & 2 and Memorial Album) It has become legendary, not only for it's high musical quality, but also due to the fact that both talented horn men died at a tender age soon after. Booker Little passed away on October 5, 1961, at the age of 23, and Dolphy on June 29, 1964, at the age of 36.

John Coltrane's quintet with Eric Dolphy was recorded extensively during their European tour in 1961, with many of the concerts evidently being broadcast and taped by private collectors. The music heard on this two-CD set was previously available from the now-defunct Mag(Luxe) label, containing both shows from Paris in 1961. The sound quality is better than average, though Elvin Jones' drums are the most prominent instrument, but the rest of the band can be heard. Coltrane tends to solo long, not always giving Dolphy and Tyner the room they deserve, though they are effective when featured…