Eric Dolphy - The Illinois Concert

Although considered one of the lesser Eric Dolphy albums, this is still a record worth checking out for a few reasons. Want a proof that bass clarinet can be a real jazz instrument on his own right? Then listen to this album. Dolphy rips on that instrument through his 20minute rendition of "Softly Through The Morning Sunrise" which literally dismantles a classic jazz melody past any recognition whatsoever. Dolphy was a master when it came to taking jazz standards and using them as fertile vehicles for his improvisations on whatever woodwind he played. This skill is just as worth mentioning as is his mastery on his instruments as well as his challenging compositions. His unaccompanied solo "God Bless The Child" is no less impressive either. Also, while Herbie Hancock playing the piano in Dolphy's ensemble is an unlikely combination indeed, it's still worth hearing nevertheless. That's the second thing to attract to this item in Dolphy's discography. If anything, this certainly sounds interesting even in the already diverse Hancock resume. Strange thing that Miles Davis hated Dolphy, whereas most of his sidemen in the legendary second great Miles Davis quintet (Ron Carter, Tony Williams, and Hancock) had played with Dolphy before. And that on the "Bitches Brew" album, Miles Davis used a bass clarinetist pretty much influenced by Dolphy's revolutionary playing. Then again, true pioneers are always hated first before their ideas become more widespread.

This record is also remarkable for the last two tracks that are are orchestrated with loads of brass and reed instruments. This shows an entirely another side to the man who was considered an anti-jazz charlatan by the conservative jazz establishment. There was more to him than just agile free-blowing radicalism. This guy was immensely talented and skilled. As Charles Mingus said, he would have made it to a classical orchestra. Dolphy even performed "Density 21.5" by Varèse on solo flute, too bad there aren't any recordings out there of that. Eric Dolphy's Out to Lunch compositions are often closer to avant-garde classical composers than to your typical jazz writers. As such it was no wonder why musicians outside jazz like Frank Zappa considered him influential.