Heavy stuff here. An historical artifact that I’ve been after for a very long time. Had several opportunities to acquire it through the years but either it was too expensive or the condition wasn’t what I’d hoped for. This copy is stellar and I can place it on the shelf at last. It’s a very rare record released on the Danish Debut label in 1962. Only have one other on that label, ”Spirits” by Albert Ayler.
Eric Dolphy was here in Scandinavia, in Copenhagen, Denmark to be precise, in September of 1961 and recorded this beautiful live album together with three Danish musicians. It’s a moment in time. A master jazz musician captured live and raw. He is joined by Bent Axen on piano, Eric Moseholm on double bass and Jørn Elniff on drums.
Bassist Chuck Israels, who was in the audience, also appears together with Dolphy on a flute/bass duet version of Randy Weston’s ”Hi-Fly”, which is a highlight on the album. Another highlight for me is Dolphy’s unaccompanied bass clarinet version of Lady Day’s ”God Bless The Child”, a standard written in 1939. Brilliant stuff.
Prestige released this material later as three volumes with some extra material from a previous nights performance. Those are probably easier to find and is a great alternative to this elusive Danish original.
