Ever heard of Eric Dolphy? Well I am here to tell you a bit about this phenomenal jazz musician who played saxophone and flute. He toured and played extensively here in Europe with the likes of Charles Mingus, for example.
Dolphy had his first big break in 1958 when he started playing with Chico Hamilton’s Quintet. Chico had been drummer for Lena Horne, Gerry Mulligan and Count Basie and later became a band leader.
Eric Dolphy was born in Los Angeles in 1928. Besides being a sideman, he was also a composer and later band leader. He started private music lessons on the clarinet and saxophone at the age of six. He served in the US Armed Forces and in 1952 entered the Navy School of Music.
His death created some confusion. He died in West Berlin at the age of 36, apparently from a diabetic coma which led to insulin shock. Either that or the confusion of the doctors attending to him who thought that him being a jazz musician he was probably on drugs and left him there for the drugs to leave his system, and he instead died. Whichever is the real reason, it was a tragic loss.
But, as it is engraved in his tombstone, «He lives in his music» and I quite agree. Here, take a listen and tell me if you don’t think he is a genius…
CHEERS
JaZzArt en València 
I’m definitely checking them out and will likely be adding him to my jazz collection. Thank you for sharing..
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He will make a great addition to your jazz collection Anthony. Thank you for your visit, it’s appreciated. All the best.
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Nice 👍
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Thank you Satyam! 🙏🏻🙂🙏🏻
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Welcome dear friend 🌺🌺
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🌺🌹🌺
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Excellent
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For sure!
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Awww…the saxophone is my favourite instrument! 🥰
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Mine too, well besides my instrument, the bass…
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Amazing🍀
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Absolutely!
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I have to be honest with you, Francisco – I’ve never heard of Eric Dolphy. But in my humble opinion, the saxophone is one of the most beautiful musical instruments. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
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And I am with you on that opinion. Lamentably Dolphi dies too young and had a very short career, mostly as a side man to Charles Mingus and people hardly ever…unless you are a big big fan…hear about the side men in a band. His life as a band leader was extremely short. Thank you 🙏🏻 Aiva and a lovely weekend to you!
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Sounds like a gifted and talented musician. Thanks for sharing his story.
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A short life and career but a phenomenal player! Thank you!
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Nice! ❤️
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Thank you!
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Yes sir, I have been going through a Jazz phase for the past few years. Out to Lunch is very progressive and I personally see the seeds for Punk music sewn in this album. Have you ever listened to Dizzy Gillespie’s «The Cool World»?
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Yes, I’ve heard it, pretty cool, no?
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I’ve got Charles Mingus piano improvs album – name escapes me
I took to learning the modes after this
I later discovered what a phenomenon he was – upright bass 😉
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He certainly was. Thank you 🙏🏻
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