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Eric Dolphy: The Complete Uppsala Concert
ByThe ninety-minute performance is a quartet date from Uppsala, just northwest of Stockholm. Joining the leader's alto, bass clarinet, and flute are pianist Ronny Johansson, bassist Kurt Lindgren, and drummer Rune Carlsson. Listeners of European jazz are no doubt aware of the future credentials of the rhythm section, and research shows a handful of sessions by the pianist in the '70s.
The sound quality of the discs is sub-par, lacking the dynamics to allow the listener hear what the pickup rhythm section was doing. But that is of minor concernDolphy is, as always, the main attraction. What sets this disc apart is the material, in both good and bad ways. Good because the unfamiliarity of the group resulted in lots of rare covers played for the only (or almost only) time, such as "Laura (Mercer-Raskin), "52nd Street Theme (the Monk theme appearing twice briefly), "Bag's Groove (Milt Jackson), and "When Lights are Low (Carter-Williams). But this left little room for Dolphy's own compositions; indeed, only "245 is self-penned.
While not the revelation that Blue Note's The Illinois Concert was when it came out, this is good material to supplement the better recorded Berlin Concerts (Enja) or Eric Dolphy in Europe (Prestige). You might hope for a "Miss Ann, "Serene, or "The Prophet, but Dolphy had the Midas touch with any material, and his presence made any group reach for the sublime. He gets the chance to stretch out in Swedenseveral of the tunes well exceed ten minutes, providing fascinating opportunities to hear Dolphy working out ideas and concepts that would bear fruit for him in a couple of years (before his death in 1964) and for Europe a little after that.
Track Listing
What Is This Thing Called Love?; 245; Laura; 52nd Street Theme; Bag's Groove; Out of Nowhere; I'll Remember April; 52nd Street Theme; When Lights are Low.
Personnel
Eric Dolphy
woodwindsEric Dolphy: alto sax, flute, bass clarinet; Rony Johansson: piano; Kurt Lindgren: bass; Rune Carlsson: drums.
Album information
Title: The Complete Uppsala Concert | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Gambit Records