Eric Dolphy - Out To Lunch! (1964)

Note: the CD I listened to was the 1999 Rudy Van Gelder Edition.

While generally praised as a masterpiece, I won't say too much about this one because I don't understand avant-garde/atonal bop/free jazz and it's not really my bag, but I listen from time to time in an effort to continue my music education through understanding. I will say the group uses its unique orchestration to its advantage throughout and I dig the timbral change of pace from these guys:

Dolphy - alto saxophone, flute, bass clarinet

Freddie Hubbard - trumpet

Bobby Hutcherson - vibes

Richard Davis - bass

Anthony Williams - drums

Reviews/ratings:

• CashBox: "The boys create some inventive far-put [sic] musical developments"
• Stereo Review: "performances are exhilarating"
• The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide (1999): ★★★★★
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★★★
• The Penguin Guide to Jazz (5th ed., 2000): ♕★★★★

 

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: All five cuts prove to challenge the listener, but the writing is much easier to consume than most other free jazz I've experienced.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None