The late multi-reed player/composer
Eric Dolphy
, one of the most pivotal figures in jazz, was a fiercely lyrical, imaginative musician at the forefront of the changes the music underwent in the 1960s.
Dolphy
, unlike some of his contemporaries, never totally abandoned the bebop approach of soloing over chord changes, but instead took his solos to fresh, expressive heights.
Outward Bound
, a quintet session from 1960, shows
in a somewhat transitional phase, his music closer to the hard bop of the late '50s than the free jazz of the '60s. "245" is a late-night blues on which
, on alto, testifies his feeling and loyalty to the form. The standard "Glad to Be Unhappy" is given a lovely, lively reading on flute, with the band providing appropriately spare, sympathetic accompaniment. "Miss Ann" features
swinging the bass clarinet with joyous abandon, as well as some crackling
Freddie Hubbard
trumpet. A highlight of this session is the imaginative, tasteful drumming of
Roy Haynes
, who has played with everyone from
Charlie Parker
to
Pat Metheny
.