Eric Dolphy - Out To Lunch

The main virtues of the music found on Out To Lunch, a landmark Eric Dolphy album (1964) are the outstanding and unconventional musicianship; as well as often interesting musical ideas. The record is filled with musicians that can be considered the cream of the crop in sixties avant garde jazz scene. Tony Williams' playing transcends the usual trappings regarding drums, often forsaking rigid sense of time, but still swinging like a motherfucker, in a twisted way. Richard Davis is a truly talented bassist whose playing complements Williams' drumming very well. Bobby Hutcherson's vibes are creepy and spacious and as a chordal instrument it is a viable alternative for piano; Freddie Hubbard delivers insanely blaring trumpet lines, making the instrument sound as if armageddon was at hand. As for Eric Dolphy: he is all over the place whenever he will take a solo on bass clarinet, flute or alto sax (in that order).

As for the compositions and overall music, the use of tricky time signatures and the stew of free rhythms as well as angular melodic developments stand out. At times this isn't very palatable, the title track seems tobe the toughest nut to crack of all the five compositions. If you're curious about Eric Dolphy, you might want to start with Far Cry or Last Date. Otherwise, this is a landmark in sixties free-jazz.