Customer Reviews

Outward Bound (20 Bit Mastering)

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Eric Dolphy was one of the true musical innovators of the 20th century. Outward Bound was his debut as a leader. With an astonishing command of the alto sax, flute, and bass clarinet, he could do it all. Dolphy played with the speed and fury of Charlie Parker but with a gentleness and grace all his own. While most of his music fell into the "avant-garde" category, the material here is much more accessible than his later works. If you're just discovering Eric Dolphy, this album is the perfect introduction.

For Prestige's 50th anniversary, the label has just released a newly remastered version of Outward Bound, along with nine other titles from their catalog. Utilizing K2 20-bit technology, the sound quality on all of them is astounding. You won't believe your ears when you hear how great these discs sound. The best part of all--they don't cost anymore than a regular CD. Collectors take note: each title is limited to 10,000 copies. Get 'em while you can...

Extremely expressive and remains today on the cutting edge of jazz style. Contains some virtuosity, as does all Dolphy, but the depth of feeling and creativity is the message. Solo bass clarinet passages are truly moving and still very unique. Sometimes edgy and not always "pretty" - it does have some discordant passages and rhythms. Heard this 30 years ago and remember how struck I was. This is a window to a new and mysterious world, the inside of an artist, not a showman.

excellent album! this was my first step into the melodically twisted world of the late Eric Dolphy. he was a multi-instrumentalist who (apparently) had such a good nature that he was dubbed "St. Eric" by his peers. his playing is certainly divine and these compositions are full of unique little corners of new sound. rooted in the popular be-bop sound of the times, but the performances show a willingness to reach out and explore the possibilities. Outward Bound is a great album to delve into after you've experienced the genius of Dolphy's breathtaking masterpiece Out To Lunch.

"Outward Bound" features Dolphy on his first venture as a leader performing some post-bop works, recorded in 1960 at Englewood Cliffs at the famous Rudy Van Gelder studio. This album was a foreshadowing of what lay in store on following albums released by Eric Dolphy. The alto saxophone playing, bass clarinet donning, flute wielding compositional innovator, who peaked on "Out to Lunch", is heard here laying the foundation for his magnum opus.

Dolphy's alto saxophone was so unique and intelligent, belting out those fast notes in ways only he seemed to comprehend. He has influenced the entire genre of free jazz greatly and continues to do so each time some promising young artist stumbles upon his work. This Fantasy Jazz release of such a seminal and imperative album in the Dolphy repertoire belongs on your shelf, not a store shelf.

Track Listing:

G.W.
Green Dolphin Street
Les
245
Glad To Be Unhappy
Miss Toni

Personnel:

Eric Dolphy (alto saxophone, bass clarinet, flute)
Freddie Hubbard (trumpet)
Jackie Byard (piano)
George Tucker (bass)
Roy Haynes (drums)

Recorded on the Prestige Label 1963 and is catalog number 7311.

This is a Rudy Van Gelder recording.

Liner Notes by Robert Levin

Review:

Many times people point to the very last Dolphy recordings ashis best ones or as the ones most representative of "hisstyle".

While I wouldn't argue that he made fantastic recordings near the end of his life, don't overlook his "early" gems like this one, OUTWARD BOUND. The crown jewel of this cd is ON GREEN DOLPHIN STREET. Freddie Hubbard uses the mute and gets great tone from it, and Dolphy is on bass clarinet and he gets his usual great tone from it as well. Many people have done this tune over the years but this is my hands-down favorite version.

This version just "walks" differently than all other versions I've heard and after hearing this one I realize that this song and the bass clarinet go together perfectly. Dolphy's DOLPHIN playing (and arrangement) alone is worth the price of the cd. 245 has some of the most blues-drenched playing from Hubbard I've ever heard him do, especially the very opening phrase of his solo. I personally still have trouble getting into the flute on very mellow jazz tunes so GLAD TO BE UNHAPPY doesn't do much for me, but if you like that sort of thing he does play well on it. All in all, this is a LP that is well worth owning and it will only add to the reasons why you wish Dolphy wouldn't have died so young.

Outward Bound was his debut as a leader. With an astonishing command of the alto sax, flute, and bass clarinet, he could do it all. Dolphy played with the speed and fury of Charlie Parker but with a gentleness and grace all his own.

Extremely expressive and remains today on the cutting edge of jazz style. Contains some virtuosity, as does all Dolphy, but the depth of feeling and creativity is the message. Solo bass clarinet passages are truly moving and still very unique. Sometimes edgy and not always "pretty" - it does have some discordant passages and rhythms. Heard this some 46 years ago and remember how struck I was. This is a window to a new and mysterious world, the inside of an artist, not a showman.

While most of his music fell into the "avant-garde" category, the material here is much more accessible than his later works. If you're just discovering Eric Dolphy, this album is the perfect introduction.