Dolphy bass clarinet

[@micaofboca]

What a tone he gets out of a bass clarinet! From honks to squeaks to wails to sweet bliss. And with that groove of rhythmic bop & swing going from top to bottom through all the possible lyrical resonances. He's the wildest cat that ever blew into a reed. He's Bird, Ornette, Albert Ayler & Archie Shepp rolled into one. If only he'd have lived to give us more. And to hear him with bassists like Mingus & Richard Davis. He's the Monk of single note instruments. Give him a manzello stritch.

[@accordionSWE]

Always thought about what would have happened if Eric Dolphy and John Coltrane had been able to live and move their music into what later became Jazz Fusion. How would they have sound during the 1970s and 1980s? But what these two giants gave us still is incredible to listen to these days.

[@bandfreak103]

I am taking up Bass clarinet at my school and my band director told me to look up Eric Dolphy.... wow I didnt even think that a bass clarinet could play like that is amazing wow Dr.Cannon was right

[@Modes9]

I can't believe the intervals and rapid jumps in register. He really went where no one had gone before and very few have gone since.

[@sallemjazz1]

Geniuses on all counts. The nearly impossible to describe greatness of Eric Dolphy. The unbelievable timekeeping of Charles Mingus. The beautifully swinging Dannie Richmond. The smile on Clifford Jordan and Johnny Coles' faces. The sheer luck that the Norwegians taped this concert.... Well that gave me a huge smile today. Thanks for posting this most incredible moment in jazz and film.

[@Tomatohater64]

Dolphy was f***ing amazing. Love all this guy's work. Gazzeloni from his "Out to Lunch" album is a masterpiece. Anybody know what year this little ditty live performance was done?

[@sharonbodea7677]

@@Tomatohater64 April 1964

[@Tomatohater64]

@@sharonbodea7677 Wow, he died shortly afterward.

[@mananaadamia1657]

And Jaki Biard

[@grandpasun]

This dude had the most original sound in the history of music. I could listen to the amazing sounds all day!

[@bassclarinetquartet]

Yes!! Dolphy always puts me in the best mood, great to see this clip. He really is the Godfather of modern bass clarinet: He is to us (creative bass clarinetists) what Sabbath is to Heavy Metal bands. Broke new ground, sent everything soaring to a new level while incorporating all the solid foundational elements of what came before.

[@michellesveinson4550]

You know, I play bass clarinet and I love it. Favourite instrument. The other night I was out to dinner with a friend and I noticed that at the table beside us a woman had mentioned Bass Clarinet and I tuned in, SO excited. Only to hear she was complaining about being paired up for one with a tenor saxophonist. Seems about right for the first time I hear one mentioned outside of a music room setting.

[@videotra]

@@michellesveinson4550 @bassclarinetquartet Is there a whole album of Dolphy playing the bass clarinet? Other full albums of jazz musicians doing it? I really love the sound of the clarinet, and especially the bass clarinet.

[@7sshare]

If the caption is correct , this is from the year he died. Just think what this guy could have done...he would be a towering giant of American music, one of the greatest musicians of our time.

[@robertjenkins5999]

"This Oslo concert was filmed on April 12, 1964. Eric Dolphy died in Berlin from undiagnosed diabetes on June 29 of that same year, nine days after his 36th birthday."

[@wstr9963]

One of the best solo's I've ever heard. What a sound, what a player!

[@Modes9]

Those register jumps are totally insane! I guess the reason he isn't more influential is that that stuff is extremely difficult...on any instrument. The only three guys I can think of who attempt this are Woody Shaw, Joe Diorio, and Aydin Esen.

[@joegargiulo7070]

My fav jazz soloist of all time - "Charlie Parker meets Eddie Van Halen" on bass clarinet, alto or flute. Love all the comments in this thread

[@Helenflute]

I love Dolphy's playing & yey how his playing, Bass Clari - Flute is so different... love the flute playing on Gazzelloni, Out to Lunch Album.. I play Flutes/alto & Bass & Bass Clari & could never tire of listening to Dolphy great video too....

[@hazelman]

My FAVORITE jazz instrumentalist!!!

[@paulawelsh7805]

What can I say but his greatness was understated! Maurice

[@iNerdiCia]

He makes the bass clarinet seem like the most magnificent instrument ever! The sounds that come out of the bc is amazing! I play bass clarinet and I'm not NEARLY and talented as Dolphy.

[@jimraw1]

@Julz796 That's typical Dolphy - improvisation using lot of wide intervals (he loved twelve-tone). Dolphy is in the Ornette Coleman school (although I think he's actually more musical in his approach). There is a song there (Mingus' take on Take the A Train perhaps?), but other than fitting in the basic chord structure Dolphy is creating his own flights of fancy on a bass clarinet. As far as finding a bass clarinetist, you're best bet is either a classical orchestra or a sax player who doubles.

[@051963mf]

This man was a genius, that is the best way to describe Eric Dolphy.

[@accordionSWE]

It is so good that it almost hard to believe. The rythm from the band and the intriguing playing from Eric Dolphy. Can not get any better.

[@tarantism]

eric dolphy has to be my favorite jazz musician. his playing is wild ... it sounds like strangling a goose.

[@pepperwilliams4428]

Eric Dolphy was a BEAST! An original in every detail. Some of my favorite is is Vol 1-3 in Europe.

[@Helenflute]

I love Dolphy's playing & yey how his playing, Bass Clari - Flute is so different... love the flute playing on Gazzelloni, Out to Lunch Album.. I play Flutes/alto & Bass & Bass Clari & could never tire of listening to Dolphy

[@mukmuklabuguen]

When listening to this strata of jazz for the first time, you're right, listening to other material for the underlying structure is helpful; also listening to other, older artists, to hear the progression that jazz has evolved to help the listener anticipate the alternative voicings that would be coming from a Dolphy or Coltrain (or later on, a Cecil Taylor)

[@hazelman]

We "Big Clarinet" players are the heart and soul of the band!!! Alto, Bassett Horn, Bass, Contra Alto, AND Contrabass. WE ROCK!!!!!!

[@cccustard]

Dolphy. The most underrated sax player of his generation. Had Coltrane not existed, he would have been a god.

[@mananaadamia1657]

Yes

[@accordionSWE]

In this video he is playing with a great band. But what I remember is there are many recordings when Eric Dolphy is playing with jazz club house bands while touring in Europe. The recordings from Copenhagen is what comes first to my mind, and there are a track in which he and the house band band are trying three takes on a song in different rythms. Would a thing like that happen today? Would three takes on a song be recorded and placed on a record? Do people today go to jazz clubs and listen to a soloist meeting a band for the first time? It is a great joy today experiencing the discoveries of music that were made back then.

[@realmusic97]

The best concert (next to the Thelonious monk concert) Oslo have ever experienced!!

[@BrokenBonesStudios]

such a beautiful instrumet. i wonder why more people don't play it.

[@free_jazz]

Insane groove

[@BoredAtHome44]

I didnt know a bass clarinet could do that. lol. this is awesome

[@SmeeUncleJoe]

Just discovered this diamond via Coltrane's live at the Village Vanguard. If you want to hear this genius at his best, check out any of the 4 versions of Spiritual on that 2 CD set. I actually admired his playing more than Coltrane's on that recording and that's saying a lot.

[@accordionSWE]

That box my sister bought me for Christmas almost twenty years ago. A great gift. Can recommend anyone to get the hands on one of the boxes.

[@britteach]

Dolphy at his finest.

[@MARKLINMAN1]

Who says you need a low C Bass clarinet? Dolphy proves it right here!

[@jeanhodgson8623]

His is a slightly unusual model that goes down to its D (C in concert pitch). I heard a solo in which he played the low D.

[@maciek_d]

Mingus keeps it cool. What a groove!

[@samuelkorg1]

Sensacional.

[@killingnatalie]

Wow, this is just....amazing. I'm going to get my jazz band director to let me just play my bass instead of sounding bad on tenor sax xD

[@jpapare]

Thanks for this post. I never knew of Eric Dolphy, and now that he has been gone for 32 years, I am just learning about him. I would think that in the 60's he would not have had a large American audience. I am not a musician (can you tell?). But, I think if I had heard him then I would have liked his work. I am going to seek out more videos of his music.

[@mambojazz1]

Not quite true. Dolphy was touring musician constantly on the road and he even joined John Coltrane's quartet which in the early 60's was the absolute most famous group in all of jazz. As far as avant garde playing it isn't any more popular now than it was in the 60's

[@doubleredsx3]

oh god, this is amazing! beautiful! so this is what heaven sounds like!

[@josemarialacarra8554]

God bless you, Eric Dolphy.

[@PKNanBoi]

i felt speechless when dolphy plays that bass clarinet you rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@supineny]

at 3:50? i'd guess he's creating the slurry shake between two notes with his embouchure. he's got most of the pads closed, and he's getting overtones to sound without moving his fingers. Making the clarinet behave a bit like a bugle.

[@accordionSWE]

What happens there and two seconds later is magnificient. In a few seconds it is like a time machine from New Orleans to the future. The grit, the dist and the pulsating rythm. When Take The A Train once were written who could imagine how it would be played in a way breaking musical conventions?

[@OLI-ODDITORIUM]

holy crap!!!!!! this man is soooo cool i wanna sound like him one day on my b.c......im in love

[@LuLibbyLu]

Bass Clarinet Forever!!

[@jazzzak]

Bob Mintzer is probably the best jazz bass clarinetist now

[@jackbanpk]

i've got my music exam tomorrow but i find this more worth my while

[@kreemdust6685]

ONE HELL OF A SOLO, DAMN!!!

[@233kid]

@jbs4em me 2!!! he sounds amazing on sax, bass clarinet and flute. His playing is seamless between the instruments!

[@7sshare]

@swuzzups I'm glad you feel that way. Most people have never heard of him.

[@RonCarterBassist]

This is classic.

[@gotham61]

Johnny Coles trumpet, Clifford Jordan tenor, Jaki Byard piano, Dannie Richmond drums.

[@jazzsaxophone]

Listen to Stravinsky, Bartok, John Cage, Rollins and Parker.....Dophly has all this in there and more...he an underappreciated genious.

[@TallFastLoud]

Such a cool sound, besides the great playing.

[@ktwheels44]

Dolphy went into diabetic shock on his last gig--sadly Mingus was not there to help his best friend. Dolphy=genius!

[@accordionSWE]

Think I read somewhere the he got some wrong medication in Germany. Do not know if it is true.

[@ktwheels44]

@@accordionSWE it's actually way more disturbing and heartbreaking. It was a mystery for years but the truth finally came out. I can't tell the story...too much to handle.

[@mananaadamia1657]

Danny is amazing

[@organatron]

Grande Márcio

[@donnscottshetler]

He is so young I figured it out later and that is Danny Richmond on drums I believe the rmor on him is he was a sax player originally

[@mananaadamia1657]

I love Charlie Mingus and Eric Dolphy

[@jazzsaxophone]

perfect...bass clarinet as it was meant to beeeee!!!

[@kefirmsk]

@William864 I'm pretty shure that there is the Charles Mingus Sixtet on this video.

[@DLuebbert]

Do a Google search using the search term "Dolphy Mingus notice Oslo". Gene Santoro's Mingus biography "Myself When I Am Real: The Life And Music of Charles Mingus" reports "In Oslo on April 13, 1964, Dolphy finalized his leaving. He would stay in Europe after the tour." You can back up now and ask Santoro your question, but presumably one of the other musicians that he interviewed remembered how and when it happened. The answer for a question like this is usually: a book.

[@robert101455]

@jesusisaklingon "The bassist" is Charles Mingus.

[@jeanhodgson8623]

I played Eric playing bass clarinet on the "Last Date" album for my Dad. He said it sounds like a turkey cock being chased around a farmyard. He used to say "Have they caught that turkey yet?".

[@mukmuklabuguen]

I played for 9 years, and yeah, do it quick and you can squeak, not matter how hard you try not to

[@DYNODRUM]

"How Great Thou Art" !! --"Dolphy Trailblazed His Own Path ", and even though J. Redman Is Great [.He plays alot like This at Times].. Its, been done . Mr. Funn Mingus, plays Bass Drum on Floor ,count In.. "These Masters are a Painting in Progress" .Danny Richmond, Jakie Byard, etc. Unreal,, 64' ON THE FLOOR...

[@warsd4]

@donnscottshetler It's Charles Mingus. This was actually his band.

[@RyaZila]

WOW!!! simply amazine

[@DYNODRUM]

If ,you Listen to Joshua Redmen ,I feel He stylizes ,Dolphy alot in His solo's and Playing .Another Immense Player....

[@Galactu5]

this is killin me it's so good!

[@iiirhd]

amazing mr dolphy

[@HupFlupper]

that bassist's name is Charles Mingus

[@jwh88]

Johnny Coles (tpt); Eric Dolphy (as,fl,bcl); Clifford Jordan (ts); Jaki Byard (pno); Charles Mingus (bass,comp,arr); Dannie Richmond (dr).

[@LunaMilkyWay29]

@Everlast237 Nopie. You just have to adjust your embouchure, since it requires a bigger mouthpiece. You'd have to take a bigger 'bite.' Yes, the reed is bigger, and you're maybe better off with a 2 and a half, or a 3. New fingering chart, yes, but it's not very different from the clarinet, honestly. You don't have to relearn everything. It's very similar, yet different.

[@fiddlercrab3]

Right on. He finished, and then they gave him.... another four bar intro? Yep.

[@JohnBrow]

Welcome to Vertical Chromaticism, enjoy the ride! +1

[@TwinkieAndCrazy]

He is absolutely amazing I wish I could play bass clarinet like that. I play Bass Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet and Flute but I am no where near 1/4 as amazing like him. The way he goes from high to low without squeaking is amazing.

[@benjamineastwood5616]

4:35 when you’re solo goes on to long so the bass player has to intervene

[@kaspafischer]

hahahaha

[@angelservin20]

he is the best

[@luckymeaaa]

WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@extremesushirolling]

eric dolphy is my 2nd favorite jazz musician (coltrane is 1st) this video is awesome too bad the tenor solo was cut short

[@brandonborn9540]

extremesushirolling full video is posted

[@liamwatson5125]

Eric Dolphy sure was a good bass clarinet player.

[@ethanw7943]

He is fucking terrible.

[@liamwatson5125]

Wild Raved I wouldn’t say he was terrible, but he did play the instrument like nobody else could.

[@ZeldafanRai]

I never thought jazz bass clarinet was a possibility. I have now been proven wrong.

[@Carus0e]

Similar , but there are more cross fingerings at the bottom of the registers

[@PabloJuncosaLopez]

3:02 Rhythm section enters on the 3rd beat of the bar? Eric Dolphy is a little piss off moving the head and his hand. Am I right? Did you guys count when I plays alone?

[@Julz796]

is he just improving or is he playing a song cuz i reallllyyyy need to find a bass clarinet player for a music project. unfortunately, i also have to download a sample of music and i cant find one anywhere!

[@vedicardi]

the greatest

[@limosince2007]

played bass clarinet for a while. god damn, thats a fun instrument to play

[@donnscottshetler]

Amen brother

[@talhavai]

i can park a truck in between his intervals. what grace...

[@mezu-e]

Is it bad that I read that as "A minor Train"?

[@snakefinger]

Eric is the most.

[@theCount1968]

genius, and thanks for the post!

[@ezeroh1]

haacho hacho hacho hachoo etc. dolphys the man

[@JeffreySaxophoneTallNewton]

Nice playing yourself! Trying to find me a Bb flute.... (I'm a tenor saxophonist).

[@alansouzacruz970]

Great

[@livvynut]

We can only worship at the playing of Eric and we can only wonder what great stuff he would be have produced if he hadn't sadly died much to soon He and a palm full of others were changing the face of of jazz. Of the three most important free style horn players,Dolphy,Coleman and Coltrane I find more in Eric's playing each time I spend time with the great man. the cliche has to be said "So long Eric"

[@millymille1]

Amzing

[@DLuebbert]

My years are advancing also. I understand your attitude. At least there's evidence that mangabitesdogma didn't fabricate a bit of Mingus/Dolphy trivia on his own say-so. Their discussion could have been any of those times or even after the show. Specifying a time of day for the conversation does seem too specific and unwarranted.

[@peekabookity]

that's true, but they do sound different and you can't really compare the sound of the two

[@shakuhachi]

dolphy is on fire, here!!!!

[@233kid]

@taariqtaariq is!! Him and Coltrane!!!

[@angelservin20]

i want to learn how to do that with my bass clarinet

[@frubafreak17]

YAY! BASS CLARINET!!