Customer Reviews

Naima

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The import Westwind Records has offered many musical
blessings over the decades; from some of the finest
solo pianistry of Abdullah Ibrahim, to live wizardry
from The Art Ensemble Of Chicago. Of all that the
label has to offer, no recording presents more
treasures than the currently out-of-print NAIMA,
the European radio aircheck which represents the
final work of the magnificent Eric Dolphy.
Engineering is remarkable, offering a clear, crisp
sound full of color and joy. Even a momentary lapse
amidst a split second of "Springtime" does not
detract from the lyrical spell in the least. Wonder
what digital technology could do here...

Recorded in June 1964, some 2 weeks before his death
due to complications over Diabetes, Dolphy is captured
at the height of his imaginative powers. It's quite
fitting that the feautre of this presentation is the
only known recording of John Coltrane's timeless "Naima"
by a Dolphy band. At once sensuous and upbeat, the
ballad features the reedslinger's bass clarinet work
at its most challenging and evocative, affirming the
bond of genius between aesthetic brothers.
The taunting cry of the bass clarinet is equally
stunning on the Dolphy original "Springtime" (in
its only known recording). Here, the Jazzmaster
saunters between staright-up groove, flamenco
implorings, and other beckonings borne from
morning sunrises.
With tenor saxophonist Nathan Davis, and trumpeter
Donald Byrd (definitely not Woody Shaw, as stated in
some discographies), Dolphy completes a frontline
which is as harmonically supple as it is thematically
formidible; ably complemented by the incisive percussion
of Jacky Bambou.
Throughout the recording, the rhythm section of pianist
Jacques Dieval, bassist Jacques B. Hess, and drummer
Franco Manzecchi is sharp, bright, and intrepidly supportive.
With Dolphy, the trio positively shimmers in a quartet
showcase of Jaki Byard's classic "Ode To Charlie Parker".
Here, Dolphy's mercurial mastery of the flute sings and
soars in the manner of birds amidst green trees in quiet
spaces, calling for the dawn to emerge, at last.

All in all, a dance for the ages, African American sorcery
working its gifts upon the world. Eric Dolphy's NAIMA is a
precious moment to be shared, a recording whose current
absence from active circulation is a damned shame.

Time for this to change.