Eric Dolphy and Phil Woods Playing Donna Lee

[sgcim]

I saw this on youtube and almost had a heart attack when i heard the first solo.

Eric Dolphy playing like a bop master...? Then i checked the personnel and realized it was Phil Woods, and Dolphy plays his usual outside stuff on a later solo.

This was from a set called "Vintage Dolphy", but does anyone know who was the leader on this date?

Edited June 9, 2013 by sgcim

[Ken Dryden]

I own that CD, which indicates it was a jam session.

[jazztrain]

"Unknown Jam Session"

Don Ellis, Nick Travis (trumpet) Jimmy Knepper (trombone) Phil Woods (alto saxophone) Eric Dolphy (alto saxophone, bass clarinet) Benny Golson (tenor saxophone) Lalo Schifrin (piano) Jim Hall (guitar) Barre Phillips (bass) Charlie Persip (drums)

"Carnegie Hall", NYC, April 18, 1963

Donna Lee GM Recordings 3005D; Enja (G) 5045

* GM Recordings 3005D Eric Dolphy - Vintage Dolphy
* Enja (G) 5045 Eric Dolphy - Vintage Dolphy

[sgcim]

Thanks, guys.

On the video, Knepper is listed as playing baritone.

I'm not sure, but the way he's getting around on that thing it could have been valves.

While the other guys sound more "modern", I'll take PW, NT and JK any day.

JH sounds like he's scuffling...

[JSngry]

Carnegie Hall, NYC, April 18, 1963...what was that event, exactly, and why were all those people there for that one jam? Was this a Schuller concert with Dolphy's band given a feature spot, and then they had a jam at the end of the night?

[jeffcrom]

Carnegie Hall, NYC, April 18, 1963...what was that event, exactly, and why were all those people there for that one jam? Was this a Schuller concert with Dolphy's band given a feature spot, and then they had a jam at the end of the night?

I haven't replied to this yet because I'm away from my home and books, but yes, that's more or less the case, if I remember correctly. Schuller presented several "third stream" pieces, some featuring Dolphy, then the three Dolphy quartet tunes and the jam session. Someone (Martin Williams?) wrote an article about the final rehearsal for the concert. The classical musicians were apprently amazed at how casually the jam session was organized.

[robertoart]

Thanks, guys.

On the video, Knepper is listed as playing baritone.

I'm not sure, but the way he's getting around on that thing it could have been valves.

While the other guys sound more "modern", I'll take PW, NT and JK any day.

JH sounds like he's scuffling...

I was surprised to hear Jim Hall sound indecisive and awkward too. Maybe he was 'out to lunch' at the time.

It's not like he can't play be-bop any other time.

[sgcim]

Carnegie Hall, NYC, April 18, 1963...what was that event, exactly, and why were all those people there for that one jam? Was this a Schuller concert with Dolphy's band given a feature spot, and then they had a jam at the end of the night?

I haven't replied to this yet because I'm away from my home and books, but yes, that's more or less the case, if I remember correctly. Schuller presented several "third stream" pieces, some featuring Dolphy, then the three Dolphy quartet tunes and the jam session. Someone (Martin Williams?) wrote an article about the final rehearsal for the concert. The classical musicians were apprently amazed at how casually the jam session was organized.

Was this the same concert that they recorded 'Variations on a Theme By John Lewis (Django)?

That was a mind-blowing performance featuring Eric Dolphy on flute, Eddie Costa on Vibes, and Jim Hall with a string quartet.

I have that on cassette tape, so I don't have any specifics. I think that was from a great LP called "Jazz Abstractions", but I don't know if it had anything to do with the Donna Lee session...I'm so confused!

[jeffcrom]

Okay, I'm home now. Here's the Martin Williams article that describes the rehearsals for the concert - Rehearsal Diary. Click on page 119 and scroll down. This should clear up some things.

The Jazz Abstractions album was a studio date from several years earlier, but Dolphy was involved in the third stream movement. He played with Orchestra USA, and on several Gunther Schuller concerts.

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

Okay, I'm home now. Here's the Martin Williams article that describes the rehearsals for the concert - Rehearsal Diary. Click on page 119 and scroll down. This should clear up some things.

The Jazz Abstractions album was a studio date from several years earlier, but Dolphy was involved in the third stream movement. He played with Orchestra USA, and on several Gunther Schuller concerts.

ive always wondered how he got involved w/ the Schuller 3rd stream orchestra usa stuff. dolphy is so far beyond that stuff. i guess in his musical story, thats his "going fusion"

[robertoart]

Okay, I'm home now. Here's the Martin Williams article that describes the rehearsals for the concert - Rehearsal Diary. Click on page 119 and scroll down. This should clear up some things.

The Jazz Abstractions album was a studio date from several years earlier, but Dolphy was involved in the third stream movement. He played with Orchestra USA, and on several Gunther Schuller concerts.

ive always wondered how he got involved w/ the Schuller 3rd stream orchestra usa stuff. dolphy is so far beyond that stuff. i guess in his musical story, thats his "going fusion"

Eric Dolphy - Crossover Artist.

[sgcim]

Okay, I'm home now. Here's the Martin Williams article that describes the rehearsals for the concert - Rehearsal Diary. Click on page 119 and scroll down. This should clear up some things.

The Jazz Abstractions album was a studio date from several years earlier, but Dolphy was involved in the third stream movement. He played with Orchestra USA, and on several Gunther Schuller concerts.

Thanks, Jeff. I read that book many years ago, and forgot about that part.

There's a very embarassing part for Jim Hall on the George Russell piece where he can't cut it.

He pretty much gives up, and says, "Can't you get Barry?", referring to the great Barry Galbraith, who was such a great reader that Russell used to use him on every recording he made in the 50s.

[Gheorghe]

Well I love it the way Dolphy plays, and Donna Lee played a little more "outside" must be a gas, like the way he played Hot House, or as he blew on that Parker mixture "Parkeriana" with Mingus.

I must admit, I never really got into Phil Woods. Heard some stuff he did with Richie Cole I think, , but it is not the kind of stuff that really made me happy, though they really can play all that stuff.

[paul secor]

I listened to the "Donna Lee" Jam recently and, to my ears, it was nothing special - more of a curiosity than anything else. One for Eric Dolphy completists, imo.

[sgcim]

Well I love it the way Dolphy plays, and Donna Lee played a little more "outside" must be a gas, like the way he played Hot House, or as he blew on that Parker mixture "Parkeriana" with Mingus.

I must admit, I never really got into Phil Woods. Heard some stuff he did with Richie Cole I think, , but it is not the kind of stuff that really made me happy, though they really can play all that stuff.

On the record PW made with RC, "Side By Side", they play Donna Lee at 352BPM.

Like Roland Kirk did with George Adams, and Sonny Stitt did with RRK, PW mops up the floor with RC.

Sorry all you jazz pacificts out there- this is a noble jazz tradition.

[robertoart]

Let's all burn our George Adams records.