Charles Mingus' Meditations on Integration - 1963

Submitted:  1963 was a watershed year for music.

Eric Dolphy: The Prophet

Eric Dolphy's (1928-1964) was a multi-instrumental jazz virtuoso (bass clarinet, alto saxophone and flute). His music,  with its' plangent sound, leaping intervals and angular logic was ecstatic, cathartic, stately and filled with grace. His genius was in his ability to strike a profound chord within any listener with welcoming ears and an inquiring mind. 

During the very few years he was afforded to record and perform, his work was vociferously attacked by critics, one of whom infamously dubbed his playing (and that of John Coltrane), as "anti-jazz".*  

Dolphy lived and died in shameful obscurity, unknown to most of the music listening public, but he was highly influential within the jazz community and his work, both with his own bands and those of Charles Mingus, Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Chico Hamilton and others, remains fresh and vital some 50 years later. He deserves a lingering listen. 

The John Coltrane Quartet with Eric Dolphy is one of My Favorite Things

In 1961, Eric Dolphy joined the John Coltrane Quartet for an extended run at The Village Vanguard and European Tour. 

Their collaboration met with fierce resistance among jazz critics at the time, the music being referred to "nihilistic" and anti-jazz". 

However quaint or outdated those objections may seem today, it clearly pained the artists themselves, who responded in a joint Downbeat interview in 1962.  

Many of the live performance recordings made at the Vanguard and the European tour that followed have been preserved and are available.

Below are the remaining performance clips of "Impressions" and "My Favorite Things".     

 "Impressions" 

  

My Favorite Things

One of the four greatest bands in the land, circa 1964 that you may have missed

Submitted:  1964 was a watershed year for popular music.

Submitted: the four most significant bands to emerge in 1964 were ...