The Complete Works of Eric Dolphy


Artist: Potsa Lotsa

Label: Jazzwerkstatt

Price: $28.95

Year: 2011
Format: CD

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Iron Man

Out To Lunch

Recorded September 2009 - February 2010.

Arguably the festival's most successful tribute was alto saxophonist Silke Eberhard's POTSA LOTSA (the group named after an obscure Dolphy composition titled “Number Eight--Potsa Lotsa” from the seminal At The Five Spot) at the Oval Room. In a chamber music aesthetic, she showcased a sampling of nearly two dozen Dolphy tunes arranged for a unique quartet of alto (Eberhard), tenor (Patrick Braun), trumpet (Nikolaus Neuser) and trombone (Gerhard Gschlossl). Offering an enlightening listen to the composer's singular works, the double reed/double brass group thrived in this setting, only their fourth- ever live performance. Giving this tribute additional significance as ultimately a tribute to Dolphy the composer versus player, Eberhard didn't make much in the way of any noticeable efforts replicating Dolphy's playing style (rarely did she even reflect a direct Dolphy stamp on her own playing), nor did she try to incorporate two other instruments closely associated with Dolphy--one of which she has been known to play--flute and bass clarinet. The group successfully melded Dolphy's jazz with an overt classical facet, offering a refreshing listen to such intricate compositions as “Burning Spear,” “Out There”(an alto/trombone feature, with Gschlossl ferociously spitting out walking bass lines), “The Prophet” (an excellent if not obvious selection with its inherent compositional beauty lending itself to the classical chamber ensemble interpretation and textural two, three and four part harmonies of various instrument combinations), ”Serene”(featuring more demanding Dolphy lines that understandably found Eberhard actually gasping for breath before squeezing out the piece's final note after consecutively demanding and lengthy lines), the obligatory “Out to Lunch” (Gschlössl interweaving short jabs and long tones with Neuser while the two saxophonists provided a line underneath before the reeds took centerstage, frenetically bleeting, blowing, popping, then leading back into the strolling head as an empathetic as-ever foursome) and “Straight Up and Down/Hat & Beard” (given an intriguing bolero undertone). An already highly anticipated 2010 Jazzwerkstatt CD release is on the way, so be on the lookout for this one! - Laurence Donohoe Green

ARTISTS
Potsa Lotsa: Silke Eberhard (alto saxophone); Patrick Braun (tenor saxophone); Nikolaus Neuser (trumpet); Gerhard Gschlossl (trombone)

TRACKS
Disc One: