Customer Reviews

Out There

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

No one has ever played quite like Eric Dolphy. People tried to find out if he played "free" (what's the opposite ?) but he always played HIMSELF beautifully ! This is a marvelous and groundbreaking CD recorded in 1960 with Ron Carter on CELLO, George Duvivier on bass and the great Roy Haynes on drums. Dolphy plays his arsenal of wind instruments - including the alto, bass clarinet, flute and b-flat clarinet. The sound is completely original and it must have sounded strange to many in 1960. Dolphy's solo on the first track is mindblowing. Where did he get his ideas and sound from ? This is like a mix of Parker the man and a real bird - just great ! The playing throughout is just as great. The CD moves from hard driving to introspective moments with complete ease. This makes the time listening to the CD seem to pass quickly (it is not too long anyway) and everything seems fresh. The fresh and original spirit of this CD is outstanding - for anyone really into pure music !

This release has plenty to recommend it, including the versatility of Dolphy's playing. From the delicate flute of "17 West" to the aggressive bass clarinet of "Serene," he covers an impressive gamut of sounds. Ron Carter's superb work on cello, set against the solid bass of George Duvivier and the impeccable drumming of Roy Haynes makes the album a rich and unpredicable listening experience.

Even if none of that were true, though, I'd still give "Out There" high marks on the basis of just one tune: "Feathers," unfortunately not sampled here. With this one song, Dolphy blows away all the detractors who said he lacked form, that he was too wild and undisciplined to create coherent solos and meaningful music.

"Feathers" opens with a slow, building line that ultimately dissolves into an alto solo that is, for me, quite simply one of the best ever constructed. Duvivier moves with supple lines behind Dolphy while Haynes lays down a simple beat and then the altoist takes care of the rest. His solo has it all: power, passion, drama and an absolutely logical form that makes it sound each time I hear it like a perfectly told story. Its beauty holds up to repeated listenings, as all the great ones do.

Fine compositions (Dolphy originals plus takes on Mingus and Randy Weston compositions), a great band, and an inspired performance that belongs on the shelf next to the best ever recorded: there should be little else needed to give "Out There" a gigantic stamp of approval.

When referring to Dolphy it seems like many writers point to his "Out to Lunch" recording as his best while "Out There" seems to get honorable mention. Of the many Dolphy albums and cd's i own, while "Out to Lunch was his most groundbreaking, i'd have to say that i enjoy listening to "Out There" the most. The title track is an amazing intro to this cd. The head is complex and the alto solo is just incredible AND the tune swings like mad. The next one, "Serene", starts with a beautiful intro, but then the mood changes when Dolphy goes off into an incredibly imaginative bass clarinet solo - unlike anything you've ever heard before. His flute playing is exceptional - in it's own league. In "17 West", while swinging like mad again Dolphy's flute playing reveals an incredible sense of urgency, which suddenly turns to beauty in "Sketch of Melba". Dolphy is also backed by some of the finest musicians in jazz: Carter, Duvivier and Haynes. Dolphy's playing is "jubilantly free" yet like i said earlier, swings - moreso than on "Out to Lunch". Recommended!

This 1960 recording constitutes my first exposure to the works of Eric Dolphy and I found the listening experience to be rich. Surprisingly, for a record of "free-jazz" this was not as out there (this was not intentional) as I expected and Eric favors an almost polite approach to what is essentially third stream music.

The lineup on this album includes the late Eric Dolphy (alto saxophone, flute, Bb and bass clarinets), Ron Carter (cello), George Duvivier (acoustic bass) and Roy Haynes (drums). This is a fantastic ensemble that is capable of great ensemble work and superb soloing. One unexpected treat was to hear the great bassist Ron Carter on cello - he is a fantastic cellist as well and started out on this instrument in a classical setting. Indeed, along with Eric's astounding abilities on woodwinds (particularly the bass clarinet), the introduction of the cello as a solo instrument adds a textural element that you do not find too often in jazz. With respect to the rhythm section, George not only provides excellent counterpoint, but turns in some great solos on his own and Roy provides a solid foundation.

This album primarily features compositions by Eric, with the exception of Out There which was co-authored with Charles Mingus, and a few covers including Eclipse (Mingus), Sketch of Melba (Randy Weston) and Feathers (Hale Smith). The pieces are in large part, what one might consider "straight" jazz, although the at times, atonal torrents of notes on the woodwinds and the odd sound of a cello in this context lends it a bit of an edge. I have to admit that Ron's cello parts are fascinating and at times it sounds as if he is playing a completely different melody than Eric; with only a few notes used as common points that link the two players. The melody lines are highly angular and at points, seem to on the verge of veering out of control, only to fall back on track in a split second. Odd meters are also used a lot although for the most part, this album "swings" and breathes freely, like a lot of the hard bop that I am familiar with.

This Hybrid Super Audio Compact Disc (SA-CD) boasts fantastic sound, although I have yet to make full use of the SACD layers. As played through a set of excellent Bose headphones, there is great separation of individual instruments and both the highs and lows sound natural.

All in all, this is a fantastic recording of fascinating free jazz that showcases the exhilarating talents of Eric Dolphy and is highly recommended.

Eric Dolphy is a sadly underrated Jazz legend. During his all-too-brief career he performed alongside many greats (notably John Coltrane, Charles Mingus and Ornette Coleman) as well as a leader on his own. His second album "Out There" from 1960 finds Dolphy stretching the limits of what can be done in a jazz combo by dispensing with piano and adding, of all things, a cello as a second lead voice. Besides his usual array of wind instruments (alto sax, bass clarinet and flute), Dolphy also makes a rare appearance on a regular b-flat clarinet on the haunting cover of Charles Mingus's "Eclipse" (the only time Dolphy used the instrument on record).
Elsewhere on the album, Dolphy swings and sways especially on the two opening cuts, the title track and "Serene". The title track features some stellar alto sax workouts while "Serene" and the following track "The Baron" display Dolphy's dexterious talents as a bass clarinetist. His dancable flute playing is highlighted in great form on "17 West" and "Sketch of Melba". The former is another swinging affair while the latter is a haunting bluesy mood music piece.
The other musicians on "Out There" are stars on this album as well. Ron Carter (who later joined Miles Davis's second classic quintet as a bassist) provides the daunting task of playing cello and he does so with tremendous results. On every track, Carter displays a solid counterpart to Dolphy's woodwinds and even steps forward as a soloist on more than one occasion. Check out his solo on "The Baron". It's a killer.
Bassist George Duvivier and the legendary drummer Roy Haynes provide the rhythms on this album and on every track, they play flawlessly. The grooves they provide on the title track are worth the price of this album alone.
While it hasn't gained the legendary status of, say, "Giant Steps", "A Love Supreme" or "Kind Of Blue", "Out There" is nonetheless a very important jazz album. Nothing else from the time period sounds exactly like it. Eric Dolphy's flawless mix of pure jazz with unconventional instrumentation (the cello) is pulled off very successfully here. So, with that said, this album is indeed a classic.
Check it out!! It's Out of Sight!!

This is Dolphy's second album for the Prestige lable, and has his alto, flute, standard Bb and bass clarinets leading, Ron Carter on cello, George Duvivier on bass, and Roy Haynes on drums. This album has no shortage of highlights and definative performances. The Title track "Out There" opens with it's distinctive twisting theme that gives way to a phenominal Carter arco cello solo, and features one of Dolphy's most blistering alto solos on record. Along the way Dolphy's bass and Bb clarinet provide highpoints, check out his bass clarinet work on "Serene". His airy flute highlights the track "Sketch of Melba". Dolphy's sidemen rise to his level with Roy Haynes' crisp drum work being punched out in sharp bursts, Ron Carter holds onto his title as the master of the jazz cello for the time bowing and plucking his way thru several fantastic solos, all over Duvivier's solid basswork. The highpoint of the album, however, is the Dolphy's dramatic alto on the album's last cut, "Feathers". His tone is hauntingly gorgeous and at times unusually light for his saxophone. The mournful theme breaks into a controlled flurry of a solo all backed by Carter's cello and an understated Roy Haynes. This is Dolphy at his best, and Out There is truly one of the greatest jazz albums of all time. This cd belongs in every jazz collection.

4.5 stars. This makes for a very enjoyable listen. Many recordings from the early 1960s sound dated--to me, this one has a timeless quality. The combination of Dolphy's unique style (on several instruments) and Ron Carter's cello work (both bowed and picked), makes for some rare sounds and harmonies. The main reason I've docked OUT THERE half a notch is that the leader's solos ramble a bit much (i.e., they are not as logicial and coherent as usual for him, at least to my ears) on a couple of the tracks. Overall, I prefer FAR CRY, the album Dolphy made a few months later with the outstanding young trumpeter Booker Little--don't miss that one. But OUT THERE is certainly also recommended if you're attuned to or becoming acquainted Dolphy's music. This CD is newly re-mastered and sounds great.

Eric Dolphy is a sadly underrated Jazz legend. During his all-too-brief career he performed alongside many greats (notably John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman) as well as a leader on his own. His second album "Out There" from 1960 finds Dolphy stretching the limits of what can be done in a jazz combo by dispensing with piano and adding, of all things, a cello as a second lead voice. Besides his usual array of wind instruments (alto sax, bass clarinet and flute), Dolphy also makes a rare appearance on a regular b-flat clarinet on the haunting cover of Charles Mingus's "Eclipse" (the only time Dolphy used the instrument on record).
Elsewhere on the album, Dolphy swings and sways especially on the two opening cuts, the title track and "Serene". The title track features some stellar alto sax workouts while "Serene" and the following track "The Baron" display Dolphy's dexterious talents as a bass clarinetist. His dancable flute playing is highlighted in great form on "17 West" and "Sketch of Melba". The former is another swinging affair while the latter is a haunting bluesy mood music piece.
The other musicians on "Out There" are stars on this album as well. Ron Carter (who later joined Miles Davis's second classic quintet as a bassist) provides the daunting task of playing cello and he does so with tremendous results. On every track, Carter displays a solid counterpart to Dolphy's woodwinds and even steps forward as a soloist on more than one occasion. Check out his solo on "The Baron". It's a killer.
Bassist George Duvivier and the legendary drummer Roy Haynes provide the rhythms on this album and on every track, they play flawlessly. The grooves they provide on the title track are worth the price of this album alone.
While it hasn't gained the legendary status of, say, "Giant Steps", "A Love Supreme" or "Kind Of Blue", "Out There" is nonetheless a very important jazz album. Nothing else from the time period sounds exactly like it. Eric Dolphy's flawless mix of pure jazz with unconventional instrumentation (the cello) is pulled off very successfully here. So, with that said, this album is indeed a classic.
Check it out!! It's Out of Sight!!

Eric Dolphy is an obscure figure in popular culture. Perhaps this is due to the Vocational nature of the American educational system. Whatever the reason, it is sad that the best of our culture is so invisible to the vast majority of the population. Anyway, this album is an amazing piece of art comparable, in my mind, to the masterpeices of Bach like the "Conerto for Two Violins in D minor". It's always a thrill to listen on so many levels.

Eric Dolphy is one of those true musical giants that transposed the muusical sound to far into the future. In my opinion when you speak of Miles, Monk, Mingus, Ellington, Coltrane among others, Eric Dolphy should fit into the mix somewhere. A true genius. This record is a milestone for the bop modern jazz/avant garde genre. Miles ahead of the field screaming off into space. The instrumental is very interesting in that it combines the combination of cello (Ron Carter) with bass (George Duvivier) along with Eric on alto sax/B flat and bass clarinets and the ever creative and rock steady Roy Haynes on drums. Everyone's playing is in extreme overdrive/fast forward. The sound is truely incredible and not to be missed my any lover of great modern/bop jazz. A masterwork of pure genius to be sure. The internal structure of the sound is such that it moves and sways into and out of tonal and atonal modes like clockwork. Recorded in 1960 by the legendary Rudy Van Gelder in should be in everyone's musical library. Cataloge this one under (Extreme power fusion/bop/modern jazz with a whole lot of soul). Dynamite. If you could rate one 10 stars this would fit into that groove. Don't miss this one, it's the real deal. Grab it and groove. Let you soul run free.