George Russell Sextet, featuring Eric Dolphy

free jazz/avant-garde (1961)

George Russell, piano; Don Ellis, trumpet; Dave Baker, trombone;
Eric Dolphy, alto saxophone; Steve Swallow, bass; Joe Hunt, drums.

Eric Dolphy plays a solo based on a Thelonious Monk tune with a passion unmatched at the time. He is true to the melody but uses extremely expressive inflections. Notice the unorthodox accompaniment, entirely in keeping with the power of Dolphys playing. This is a prime example of how the free jazz style was applied to traditional standards. This is also an example of the third stream/avant-garde continuum in the early 1960s. The performers are from the academically trained tradition.
