ABSTRACT
Dolphy, who played alto saxophone, bass clarinet, and flute, made a lasting mark on the jazz language during his short career. Born in Los Angeles, he started studying clarinet when he was six and began playing professionally as a young teen. His first major break came with Chico Hamilton’s group in 1958 in Los Angeles. He then moved to New York and joined Charles Mingus’s powerful and forward-looking group in 1959, with which he recorded Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus (Candid 9005; 1960), and Mingus! (Candid 9021; 1960). Dolphy’s second album as a leader, Out There (Prestige 24008; 1960), demonstrates his penchant for exploring unusual melodic concepts. His 1964 release, Out to Lunch (Blue Note 84163), a recording that was considered radical at the time of its release, now sounds like part of the jazz mainstream.
