Dolphy and More: The Out to Lunch Quintet at the Artists Quarter, May 4-5
Contributed by Andrea Canter, Contributing Editor - JazzPolice.com   

Out to Lunch Quintet © Andera Canter

One of the top events in local music in 2006—in my opinion—was the release of The Out to Lunch Quintet: Live at the Artists Quarter. Produced by Don Berryman (Jazz Police) and featuring five of the most creative jazzers in the Midwest, the recording took the seminal 1964 work of saxophonist Eric Dolphy and presented it with a 21^st century glow. The very fact that this music was performed at all was in itself a major event in jazz. This weekend, May 4-5, the OTLQ returns to the Artists Quarter to continue its mission—honoring the music of Dolphy through recreations of his compositions and original works.

On his liner notes, Don Berryman provides an informative summary of the short life of Eric Dolphy, a masterful composer, arranger and performer on multiple reeds. He was a favorite of Mingus and Coltrane, but perhaps best known as the composer of avant-garde compositions using odd time signatures further pushed outside by his dissonant and unpredictable blowing style. Notes Berryman, "Out to Lunch influenced a generation of jazz players…and is regarded not only as Dolphy's finest recording, but as one of the greatest jazz recordings." Tragically Dolphy died at age 36 in June 1964, a few weeks before Blue Note released his seminal recording. Read more...