Early recordings in New York

Charles Mingus, Oliver Nelson, others

1960 up to 11 November

Sammy Davis Jr., acc. by Sy Oliver Orchestra

NYC, early 1960

Sammy Davis, Jr. (vcl); William "Cat" Anderson, Thad Jones, Joe Newman, Ernie Royal, Eugene "Snooky" Young (tpt); Henry Coker, Al Grey, Benny Powell (tbn); Eric Dolphy, Marshall Royal (as); Frank Foster, Billy Mitchell (ts); Charlie Fowlkes (bars); George Rhodes (pno); Ed Jones (bass); Freddie Greene (gtr); Percival "Sonny" Payne (dr); Sy Oliver (arr,dir,cond).

There is No Greater Love, This Little Girl of Mine, Gee Baby Ain't I Good to You, Mess Around

Some band! Released on Decca DL(7)8981, "I Gotta Right to Swing" according to S&T and Swing Journal. Also Decca 31177, 31136, ST74-8981, Brunswick LAT8352, 87041, (J)MCA-3154.

Eric Dolphy Quintet

Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1 April 1960

Freddie Hubbard (tpt); Eric Dolphy (as,fl,bcl); Jaki Byard (pno); George Tucker (bass); Roy Haynes (dr).

G.W. [12:07, 7:55](as), 245 [8:08, 6:47](as), Green Dolphin Street [5:42](bcl), Glad to be Unhappy [5:41](fl), Les [5:11](as), Miss Toni [5:40](bcl), April Fool [4:07](fl)

Eric's first date as a leader, this is classic. It is mostly known as "Outward Bound", released many times (New Jazz NJLP8236, Metronome MEP9039 - a single with GW and 245, thanks to TP Uschanov for this information -, Transatlantic TRA-SAM-3). It is the first record of the two record set titled simply "Eric Dolphy", Prestige 24008. It has more recently been released in the Original Jazz Classic series, with the original cover art by Richard "The Prophet" Jennings, OJC022-2 (LP and CD). The alternate longer takes of G.W. and 245 appear on Prestige MPP2517, a compilation CD with other tracks noted below, and on the Japanese VVICJ-23634. The tune April Fool is found elsewhere in some cases, for instance on "Here and There", Prestige 7382. Other releases include PR7311, Esquire 32-123, BelAir 331.006, VDJ1653, VDJ1594, OJC CD673-2, OJC CD1203-2, FCD 60.022, MEP 9039, SMJ6514, SMJ7432, LPJ80011, VIJ247, VICJ23634, Voix de son Maitre FELP10019, Bellaphon BJS40103, BLST6518, Fonit Cetra OM2033, VIJ4034, Fonit Cetra HBS6157, SMJ-6578, P-24070, 68.326, HB6044, PPR076, 68.320, HB6062, DPU 25, VICJ-2220 (20-bit remastered Japanese issue). The shorter GW is also on OJCX008. All of this is included in the Fantasy box, 9PRCD-44182.
Hubbard lays out on the flute tracks. Eric's sound in this session seems big and broad to me, with a lot of reverb.

Ruth Brown

NYC, 19 April 1960

Ruth Brown (vcl); Burt Collins, Ernie Royal, Richard Williams, Danny Moore (tpt); Charles Greenlea, Bernard McKinney, Julian Priester (tbn); Charlie Mariano, Eric Dolphy (as); George Coleman, Bob Newman (ts); Jay Cameron (bars); Tommy Flanagan (pno); Kenny Burrell (gtr); Nobby Totah (bass); Pete LaRoca Sims (dr).

Don't Cha Go Away Mad, Baby Don't You Cry, Just the Way You Look Tonight, Shine On

These are unissued. See "The Best of Ruth Brown" below.

(not in my collection)

Charles Mingus and his Orchestra

NYC, 24 May 1960

Marcus Belgrave, Ted Curson, Hobart Dotson, Clark Terry, Richard Williams (tpt); Eddie Bert, Charles Greenlee, Locksley "Slide" Hampton, Jimmy Knepper (tbn); Don Butterfield (tuba); Eric Dolphy (as,fl,bcl); John LaPorta (as,cl); Yusef Lateef (ts,fl); Robert DiDomenica (fl); Bill Barron, Joe Farrell (ts); Danny Bank (bars); Harry Shulman (oboe); Roland Hanna (pno); Charles McCracken (cel); Charles Mingus (bass,comp,arr); Dannie Richmond (dr); "Sticks" Evans, George Scott, Max Roach (perc); Gunther Schuller (cond).

Half-Mast Inhibition, Mingus Fingus Number Two, Bemoanable Lady (as), Yusef Isef Too

Mercury MG20627/SR60627, Limelight SR-86015, with session below. Bill Hery notes: Original Mercury release titled Pre-Bird, referring to the fact that Mingus had conceived of (or actually composed) all the music as a teenager before he heard Bird. Reichardt lists an unissued Portrait as well. Other reissues are Trip TLP 5513, Emarcy 826496-2, LM82015, LML4009, Fontana FJL115, SMWL21056, 10021MCE, MCE126016, JCL683265, JCY883265, Limelight (J)1015, (NL)200.009LMY, Amiga (DDR)855496, Mercury (EU)6338281, (F)12513MCL, (NL)6336321, (NL)134645MFY, (J)SFX-10545, BT-5309, EVER-1015, 18PJ2025/EXPR-1015.

Charles Mingus and his Orchestra

NYC, 25 May 1960

Ted Curson (tpt); Jimmy Knepper (tbn); Eric Dolphy (as,fl,bcl); Yusef Lateef (ts,fl); Booker Ervin, Joe Farrell (ts); Roland Hanna or Paul Bley (pno); Charles Mingus (bass,comp,arr); Dannie Richmond (dr); Lorraine Cousins (vcl).

Weird Nightmare, Prayer for Passive Resistance, Eclipse, Do Nothing 'Till You Hear From Me/ I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart, Take the 'A' Train/ Exactly Like You

Mercury MG20627/SR60627, SMWL21056, 10021MCE, MCE126016, (G)6618007, and Emarcy 826496-2. Limelight SR-86015, LML4009, "Mingus Revisited", with Mingus sitting in front of a chessboard on the cover according to Swing Journal. Some of these appear on Verve 840 033, "Jazz Club: Drums" and Verve 840 031, "Jazz Club: Tenor Sax".

Oliver Nelson Sextet

Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 27 May 1960

Richard Williams (tpt); Eric Dolphy (as,bcl); Oliver Nelson (as,ts); Richard Wyands (pno); George Duvivier (bass); Roy Haynes (dr).

Three Seconds (as), Alto-itis (as), The Meetin' (as), The Drive (as), March On March On (as), Screamin' the Blues (bcl)

New Jazz NJLP8243, Prestige 45-202 or 508, OJC 080, Status 8243, Prestige P24060, Esquire 32-148, Xtra 5039, SMJ-6565, HB6139. This is "Screamin' the Blues". Also on the Fantasy box, 9PRCD-44182. Meetin' is on FCD-60-022. March On is on Boplicity (E)BPOM11.

Ken McIntyre-Eric Dolphy Quintet

Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 28 June 1960

Eric Dolphy (as,fl,bcl); Ken McIntyre (as,fl); Walter Bishop, Jr. (pno); Sam Jones (bass); Art Taylor (dr).

Lautir (fl) [4:03], Curtsy (as) [5:51], Geo's Tune (as) [7:12], They All Laughed (as) [5:06], Head Shakin' (as) [10:45], Dianna (bcl) [9:06]

New Jazz NJLP8247 according to S&T, 8259 according to Swing Journal. It should be 8247. 8259 is another Ken McIntyre album (STONE BLUES). Now available on OJC-252 (LP). This is "Looking Ahead". Found also as one record of "Fire Waltz", Prestige P-24085 and (F)68.330, which package it with "The Quest" (see below). Nice version of Gershwin's They All Laughed. Also on SMJ7560, SMJ6566, and Esquire 32-133. And on the Fantasy box, 9PRCD-44182.

Eric Dolphy

NYC, 8 July 1960

Eric Dolphy (fl); Gina Lalli (tabla, vcl); Roger Mason (tamboura).

Improvisations and Tukras

This is on Blue Note BT-85131 and CDP48041, "Other Aspects", and see below for other sessions on this record. An eastern repetitive figure piece that is very demanding, practically athletic. Simosko says: "a typical background for Kathak dancing in India, complete with the chanting of the tala patterns, which conform to the steps of the dancer. The repetitive motif is also traditional."

Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop

Antibes Jazz Festival, Juan-Les-Pins, France, 13 July 1960

Ted Curson (tpt); Eric Dolphy (as); Booker Ervin (ts); Charles Mingus (bass, pno); Dannie Richmond (dr); Bud Powell (pno).

Better Git Hit In Your Soul [11:00](as), Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting [11:54], Folk Forms No. 2 [11:08](as), What Love? [13:34](bcl), I'll Remember April [13:39](as), Prayer for Passive Resistance [8:06]

This is available on Affinity L6AF41 or CD AFF778, "Charles Mingus Live", which includes the first three tunes only, and on Atlantic SD2-3001, WEA (E)K60146, Atl (C)60146, Warner Pioneer/Atl (J)P-5184/5A, "Mingus at Antibes", a 2-record set that includes all tunes. Also Rhino 90532-2, Atlantic CD 7 90532-2 and BYG YX7009, Sensation (I)002, Affinity (E)AFF19, Affinity/Ariston (I)FA9. An edited version of Better... is on Curcio (I)GJ16 and Europa Jazz EJ1013. Wednesday Night... is on Atlantic Jazz' "The Avant-Garde", 7567-81709-2. Bud plays only on I'll Remember April.

The video of I'll Remember April is worth watching, but the quality is poor.

Eric Dolphy Quartet

Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 15 August 1960

Eric Dolphy (as,cl,bcl,fl); Ron Carter (cel); George Duvivier (bass); Roy Haynes (dr).

Out There [6:52](as), Serene [7:00](bcl), The Baron [2:54](bcl), Eclipse [2:47](cl), 17 West [4:50](fl), Sketch of Melba [4:40](fl), Feather [5:00](as)

New Jazz NJLP8252, "Out There". Also on Prestige 24008, with "Outward Bound", see above. Rereleased by OJC with original cover art by The Prophet: OJC 023-2 (LP, CD). Another important recording, with tremendous alto work on Feather, soprano clarinet on Eclipse, bass clarinet on Serene, flute on 17 West and Sketch of Melba, and nice work on alto opposite Ron Carter's cello on Out There. Eclipse and Feather are also included on the compilation MPP2517 with other tracks mentioned above and below. Other releases: Esquire 32-153, Xtra 5054, FCD60.022, PRP1, Fantasy (F)FCD60022, Fonit Centra (I)DPU25, PR7652, (J)SMJ7563, LPJ80039, VICJ23635, Bellaphon (G)BJS40142, BLST6518, VIJ4034, Fonit Centra (I)HBS6157, SMJ-6567, (F)68.320, (I)HB6062. Feather is on the compilation OJCX008. All of this is included in the Fantasy box, 9PRCD-44182.

Latin Jazz Quintet with Eric Dolphy

Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 19 August 1960

Eric Dolphy (as,fl,bcl); Juan Amalbert (conga); Gene Casey (pno); Bill Ellington (bass); Charlie Simons (vib); Manny Ramos (dr, timbales).

Caribé (as), Blues in 6/8 (as), First Bass Line (bcl), Mambo Ricci (as), Spring is Here (fl), Sunday Go Meetin' (fl)

New Jazz NJLP8251, Prestige MPP-2503, OJC-819, SMJ6568, Fonit Cetra/Prestige (I)HB6089, "Caribé". Mambo Ricci is on "Latin Jazz: Volume 2" (Beat Goes Public, BGP 1027) and "The Best of Latin Jazz" (CDBGP1034). A very pleasant album, nice setting to let Eric blow in my opinion. Gene Casey gets a lot of the space though. Eric has the big broad van Gelder sound here, and a warm flute tone. Also on the Fantasy box, 9PRCD-44182.

Ruth Brown

NYC, 30 August 1960

Ruth Brown (vcl); Burt Collins, Ernie Royal, Richard Williams, Danny Moore (tpt); Charles Greenlee, Bernard McKinney, Julian Priester (tbn); Charlie Mariano, Eric Dolphy (as); George Coleman, Bob Newman (ts); Jay Cameron (bars); Tommy Flanagan (pno); Kenny Burrell (gtr); Nobby Totah (bass); Pete LaRoca Sims (dr).

Takin' care of business, Honey Boy, It tears me all to pieces

These are on Atlantic 8080, "The Best of Ruth Brown", Atlantic 2075, and Atlantic 2104 respectively. The last two may be singles. Reichardt (via Ruppli) shows the April 19, 1960 session that is listed above as well, with unissued titles.

(not in my collection)

John Lewis and his Orchestra

NYC, 8 September 1960

Herb Pomeroy (tpt); Gunther Schuller (fr horn); Eric Dolphy (as); Benny Golson (ts); Jimmy Giuffre (bars); John Lewis (pno,comp,arr,dir); George Duvivier (bass); Jim Hall (gtr); Connie Kay (dr).

The Stranger

Atlantic SD1375 according to S&T and Swing Journal, "The Wonderful World of Jazz". Now also on a CD of the same name, Atlantic 7 90979-2; the CD has The Stranger, which wasn't on the LP. Also on 332.046, London LTZ-K15237, SAH-K6218. Actually, later editions of S&T corrected this (thanks to Peter Roberts I believe), and Afternoon in Pari, which is what is on the LP, is now listed below.

John Lewis and his Orchestra

NYC, 9 September 1960

Herb Pomeroy (tpt); Gunther Schuller (fr horn); Eric Dolphy (as); Benny Golson (ts); Jimmy Giuffre (bars); John Lewis (pno,dir); George Duvivier (bass); Jim Hall (gtr); Connie Kay (dr); Gary McFarland (comp,arr).

Afternoon in Paris, Night Float, If You Could See Me Now, Round Midnight

Atlantic SD1425, (F)850.006, AMCY-1097, "Essence". The last two tunes are unissued.

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis with the Big Band

Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 20 September 1960

Bobby Bryant, Clark Terry, Richard Williams (tpt); Jimmy Cleveland, Melba Liston (tbn); Eric Dolphy (as,bcl); Oliver Nelson (as,cond,dir,arr); Bob Ashton, Jerome Richardson (ts,fl); Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (ts); George Barrow (bars); Richard Wyands (pno); Wendell Marshall (bass); Roy Haynes (dr); Ernie Wilkins (arr).

Walk Away, Trane Whistle, Whole Nelson, Stolen Moments, Jaws, You Are Too Beautiful

Prestige PR7206, PR7834, OJC 429-2 "Trane Whistle". Not much for Eric, but some interesting music by Nelson, including a nice performance of Stolen Moments (528K) 5 months before the famous one. Esquire 32174 and Xtra 5019 are other releases. Also on the Fantasy box, 9PRCD-44182.

Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop

Nola Penthouse Studio, NYC, 20 October 1960

Ted Curson (tpt); Eric Dolphy (as,bcl); Charles Mingus (bass,comp,vcl); Dannie Richmond (dr,vcl).

Folk Forms No. 1 (as) [12:28], Original Faubus Fables (as) [8:49], What Love (bcl) [14:41], All the things you could be by now if Sigmund Freud's wife was your mother (as) [8:08], Stormy Weather (as)

Candid CJM8005/CJS9005, Barnaby/Candid Z30561, Mosaic MR4-111, "Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus". This is one of the greatest records I have. What Love is legendary, and provides me with transcendental experiences routinely. Make sure you listen to this record. Stormy Weather isn't on the above album but appears on CJM8021/9021, JAZ5002, SMJ-6195, and on Candid CCD79033. Albrecht Heeffer provided info about Disky Communications B.V. ATJ CD 5965, which has Stormy Weather, Original Faubus Fables, and Folk Forms No. 1 as well as the MDM below and Lock'em Up from November 11. Candid 45-601 had parts of first 2 songs. Other releases include BR5015, 2BR6015, America 30AM 6082, CCD79021, KZ31034, CH50053, JAZ5048, S64358, SOPC57001/11, VIJ-6453, SMJ-6178, and CBS S64675. NW242 has Faubus.

Ted Curson, Lonnie Hillyer (tpt); Eric Dolphy (fl); Charles McPherson (as); Nico Bunink (pno); Charles Mingus (bass,comp); Dannie Richmond (dr).

Reincarnation of a Love Bird [9:17] (fl)

This is on Mosaic MR4-111 and Candid CCD-79033.

Ted Curson, Lonnie Hillyer (tpt); Eric Dolphy (as,bcl); Charles McPherson (as); Booker Ervin (ts); Nico Bunink (pno); Charles Mingus (bass,comp); Dannie Richmond (dr).

Vassarlean [6:35]

This is on Candid CJM8019, Mosaic MR4-111, CJS9019, BR5021, JAZ5050, (F)CANF6009, (J)SOPC57011/12, (J)SMJ-6188, (I)CS-9019, 2B R6015, CH-50053, KZ31034, (F)S64675. Eric doesn't solo.

Charles Mingus (bass,comp,arr); Dannie Richmond (dr); Eric Dolphy (bcl,as); Ted Curson, Lonnie Hillyer (tpt); Charles McPherson (as); Booker Ervin (ts); Nico Bunink (pno); Jimmy Knepper, Britt Woodman (trb).

MDM [19:07]

This is on Candid CJM8021 or Barnaby/Candid KZ31034, and Mosaic MR4-111, "The Candid Recordings", with other tunes given below and Stormy Weather above. Also Barnaby 2BR6015, a 2 LP set with both albums from these sessions, and 9021, 5002, and 6195 (see Stormy Weather above).

Abbey Lincoln/Jazz Artists' Guild

NYC, 1 November 1960

Abbey Lincoln (vcl); Benny Bailey (tpt); Eric Dolphy (as); Kenny Dorham (pno); John "Peck" Morrison (bass); Jo Jones (dr).

Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do [7:02, 7:42]

Candid CJM8022, Barnaby/Candid BR-5022, "Newport Rebels". Nice obligatos. See below for more on this album. An alternate take appears on CCD-79033. Also (7)9022, CANF6008, SOPC57003, and SMJ-6187.

Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop/Jazz Artists' Guild

NYC, 11 November 1960

Ted Curson, Lonnie Hillyer (tpt); Eric Dolphy (as,bcl); Charles McPherson (as); Booker Ervin (ts); Paul Bley (pno); Charles Mingus (bass,comp,arr); Dannie Richmond (dr).

Lock 'Em Up [6:47], Reincarnation of a Love Bird [6:56]

Candid CJM8021, Mosaic MR4-111, Love Bird (G)CCD79026, with MDM and Stormy Weather.

Roy Eldridge (tpt); Jimmy Knepper (tbn); Eric Dolphy (as); Tommy Flanagan (pno); Charles Mingus (bass,comp,arr); Jo Jones (dr).

R & R [11:48], Mysterious Blues [8:38], Body and Soul [10:43, 13:46]

R&R is on Candid CJM8019 and CD79019, "The Jazz Life!", with Vassarlean, and on CCD-79026 and Mosaic MR4-111. Mysterious Blues is on Candid CJM8022 and BR-5022, "Newport Rebels", and on Mosaic MR4-111. Body and Soul is on the Candid CD CCD79026 issue REINCARNATION OF A LOVEBIRD which also includes 3 cuts without Dolphy, as well as on the Mosaic. An alternate take of Body and Soul is on Candid CCD-79033 and 79042.

1961 in New York - Chronologically next section of discography

Introduction - Back to beginning

Date created: 1995
Last modified: 11 May 2014
Maintained by: Alan Saul
alan@adale.org