Eric Dolphy Quintet with Booker Little - Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot, Vol. 2

Digitally remastered using K2 bit technology, this is a Japanese reissue of the great jazz musician's 1961 album for the Prestige label in a miniaturized LP sleeve limited to the initial pressing only. Dolphy, known for his playing of the flute, clarinet Album Description

These guys can play. I can't write much of a review

This is good but having the selections (without the alternate takes) from the two volumes on one disc would have been better. December 21, 2005

Sharp, lyrical free jazz

I bought this back in 1978, when I was 16, and it still remains one of my favorite disks, even over "Out To Lunch" or "Berlin Concerts". Dolphy's bass clarinet is a revelation-- I can't add much to the other reviewers, they are spot on, but I will say that he can wring some amazing emotions out of the unwieldy beast. He can go from sweetly lyrical to jarringly paranoid in only a few bars. September 20, 2002

More music from the legendary live date.

This cd is the second of three that chronicles Eric Dolphy's legendary concert recorded in 1961 at New york's Five Spot cafe. Dolphy' clarinet and flute lead Mal Waldron on piano, Richard Davis on bass, Eddie Blackwell on drums, and the near forgotten trumpet great Booker Little. If the fact this disc only has two tracks makes you hesitant to buy it, fear not both tracks are deep and reward multiple listenings. Little's "Aggression" opens the disc, and is exceptional because it is one of the few times on record when Dolphy does not outshine the other soloists. Little takes the first solo, and simply burns. His brilliant faculty and fertile imagination are on full display as he manages to wrend sounds and effects rarely hear from a trumpet, all the while keeping his musical acrobatics logical and his tone clear and bright. Dolphy follows with his distinctive bass clarinet. His solos on the seemingly awkward solo instrument are always among his most inventive and interesting. Keeping with this standard Dolphy dives into a burbling squealing exploration of the instrument's lower register. Waldron follows with a solo seemingly sparked by Dolphy and Little. His left hand laying down block chords under his nimble right hand runs. Richard Davis shows off his awesome technique by performing one of the clearest, most flawless, uptempo bass solos I have ever heard. Eddie Blackwell finishes the soloing with an extended rapid fire burst of tight snare rolls and bombed out tom fills. Easily one of the highlights of the entire live set. Dolphy switches to his flute for the second and last of the disc's extended works, the slower and somewhat more convetional standard, "Like Someone In Love". For his solo, Dolphy ranges from puckish to lyrical to more avante garde overblowing and and percussive tone exploration. Little adopts a more melancholy laidback tone and constructs a soulful, lyrical solo. Waldron swings into a laidback blues flavored solo colored by switches in tempo in its second half. Davis has another dexterous, expressive solo he truly is one of the masters of the jazz bass solo. This music is not only important as a document of one of Jazz's greatest live performances, but because both Little and Dolphy would pass away within the next three years, Little three months after this date at 23. I recommend buying vol. 1 first, this cd and the final collection "Memorial Album" last, but the music stands alone and sounds fresh almost fourty years later. Highly recommened music. August 23, 2000

absolute classic!

This is a great CD. Aggression is 16 minutes long and has great soloing from everyone. Richard Davis' walking bass solo is so fast it's amazing. Like Someone in Love is nearly 20 minutes long and some of the most expressive jazz I've heard. Eric's flute is contrasted beautifully with Booker's trumpet. Only two songs, you say? Yeah, but each song is an improvised symphony in terms of emotional content. Get this CD and feel the music! November 19, 1999

More reviews at Amazon.com ...