The Complete Last Recordings: In Hilversum & Paris 1964

Eric Dolphy’s complete European recordings during the period of May-June 1964, included here for the first time ever on a single set.

This music was made shortly after Dolphy left Charles Mingus at the end of April. It consists of Dolphy’s two extended sessions in Hilversum and Paris in their entirety –including a supreme rendering of “Naima”.

Also included are two extremely rare sessions taken from radio broadcasts, recorded in Paris and Eindhoven.

Dolphy died in Berlin from a diabetic coma on June 29, 1964, at the age of 36.

Includes 16-page booklet with detailed liner notes, rare photos and memorabilia.

This CDs contain Eric Dolphy’s final recordings. Dolphy had just left Charles Mingus’ group prior to recording all of this music. In fact, it was Mingus who brought Dolphy to Europe in 1964 shortly before these sessions were made. Dolphy left Mingus at the end of April with the intention of staying in Europe for a while in order to try his luck as a soloist. Mingus returned to the United States and on June 2 & 3 recorded the album Right Now live at San Francisco’s Jazz Workshop. After leaving Mingus, Dolphy performed with and recorded a few sides with various European bands. On May 28 he performed two tracks in Paris for a radio broadcast with a quartet including American pianist Kenny Drew (who had moved to Europe in 1961), and French players Guy Pedersen on bass, and Daniel Humair on drums. Fortunately, these rare items were preserved and have been added as a bonus at the end of CD2. This is followed by the well –known date in Hilversum, Holland, with pianist Misha Mengelberg, bassist Jacques Schols and drummer Han Bennink. It was recorded on June 2, 1964, and a selected audience of music fans was present that day in the studio as if it were a type of private concert. The same group had performed for the radio the day before in Poort Van Kleef, Eindhoven, Holland, where another version of Thelonious Monk’s “Epistrophy” was recorded. Given that it presents the worst sound quality of all of the material included here, we have placed it at the end of our collection. Dolphy died on June 29, 1964 just nine days after turning 36-years old, leaving a short but tremendous legacy in the jazz world.

CD 1, 1-6: Misha Mengelberg (p), Jacques Schols (b), Han Bennink (d). Hilversum, Holland, June 2, 1964.

CD 1, 7-8 & CD2, 1-4: Donald Byrd (tp), Nathan Davis (ts), Jacques Dieval (p), Jacques Hess (b), Franco Manzecchi (d), Jacky Bambou (perc). Paris, France, June 11, 1964.

*BONUS TRACKS (CD2, 5-7):
5-6: Kenny Drew (p), Guy Pedersen (b), Daniel Humair (d). Paris, France, May 28, 1964.

7: Misha Mengelberg (p), Jaques Schols (b), Han Bennink (d). Live broadcast from Poort Van Kleef, Eindhoven, Holland, June 1, 1964.