Customer Reviews

Eric Dolphy in Europe, Vol. 2

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

So the backup is not as strong as the Trane Village Vanguard recordings. I wouldn't care if Dolphy was in the alley with a bunch of guys banging trash cans, this is some great playing. Dolphy's playing at this point was so strong that it would have to fall a long way to come down from 5 stars. Buy these Europe recordings, the Five Spot and the Village Vanguard recordings. You can't buy just one. There are some people you just need to be deep in. Rahsaan, Trane, Dolphy, Bird, etc. Dig deep my friend.

The three volumes of "In Europe" capture Eric Dolphy on two nights in Copenhagen on September 6 & 8, 1961. Not being able to support a tour with a full-time band, Dolphy would appear as a featured soloist with various ad hoc groups. For these Prestige recordings, Dolphy is backed by an the all-Danish rhythm trio of Bent Axen on piano, Erik Mosenhohm on bass, and Jorn Elniff on drums. They provide only adequate support, and are the primary reason these sessions only receive three-star ratings. "Volume 2" finds Eric on alto sax for the album's two up-tempo numbers, the Dolphy original "Les" which first appeared on "Outward Bound," and the standard "The Way You Look Tonight." He switches instruments on the disc's two ballads -- to flute on "Don't Blame Me" (this disc adds an alternate performance of this song as a bonus track), and bass clarinet on "Laura." Although these recordings don't document Dolphy at his best, upon his return to the U.S. he would again make some of the music he is remembered for most -- he joined John Coltrane's band for the next six months, and was a major contributor on the landmark Village Vanguard recordings.