By Andy Beta, eMusic ContributorIn most other cultures, the beard is a sign of maturity, wisdom, an indicator of "yang" energy; but in America, the bearded are pushed to the fringe, to the brambled outskirts of a well-groomed, highly… more »
By Phil Freeman, eMusic ContributorIn the early 1960s, as the manic improvisations of bebop gave way to bluesy hard bop, a group of young players showed up on the roster of legendary jazz label Blue Note Records, making music… more »
By Kevin Whitehead, eMusic ContributorThe alto saxophonist/bass clarinetist/flutist had been on a hot streak when he died suddenly in 1964. Out to Lunch is as radical as its title suggests, but brims with warmth, wit and invention. Its distinctive… more »
By John Morthland, eMusic ContributorSo what if Little is the unjustly forgotten Memphis trumpeter's real surname? He still counts here — boy, does he still count. This is the last of three live albums drawn from the Dolphy quintet's… more »
By Kevin Whitehead, eMusic ContributorThe great alto saxophonist, bass clarinetist and flutist on one of his best-ever outings, from 1963, with, among others, bassist Richard Davis, vibist Bobby Hutcherson and Clifford Jordan and Sonny Simmons on saxes. more »
By Kevin Whitehead, eMusic ContributorIt's easy to hear why Dolphy shook up so many folks, circa 1960: the bop-based tunes were familiar, but not the bubbling, raucous sound he got from bass clarinet. His leaping alto sax packs a… more »
By Andy Beta, eMusic ContributorMulti-reedsman Dolphy is one of the rare jazz players to serve as sideman to three giants of modern jazz, working with Charles Mingus, John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman on their groundbreaking works. Dolphy mastered not… more »
By Kevin Whitehead, eMusic ContributorWhen Jaki Byard was with Charles Mingus in the 1960s, audiences would laugh when, mid-solo, Byard would burst into 1920s-style stride piano — the revved-up ragtime offshoot where the left hand bounds back and forth… more »