Eric was a very unique jazz player. Everything was a little odd, yet all brilliant. He was one of a kind. Where his vision came from I don't know, but his fellow jazz giants recognized that he was special. Coltrane, Mingus, and many others acknowledged his unique musicianship.  He was really special.

2 musicians eternally regretted to have died too young: Hendrix and Dolphy.
NO ONE could and can play the bass clarinet like Dolphy.

Bass – Jacques B. Hess
Bass Clarinet – Eric Dolphy
Congas – Jacky Bambou
Drums – Franco Manzecchi
Tenor Saxophone – Nathan Davis
Trumpet – Donald Byrd

Ladies & gentlemens, this is music.

This song is one of the reasons they say that jazz is the CLASSICAL MUSIC OF AMERICA! AMEN!

Dolphy stops me in my tracks with his genius. The others are great in this recording but he is just "off the charts" sublime. A true genius.

I was at the 'Le Chat Qui Peche' club in Paris on June 11, 1964, and was invited back stage by Eric whom I had met with Charles Mingus earlier in Vancouver...then later in 1967, I introduced Jimi Hendrix to his music in London, while I was photographing his "Are You Experienced" Album cover...Rest In Peace & Love.

For those of us fortunate to realize that jazz is communicated spiritually first and wat it truly represents this music was innately given to that black man only he and his trials and triumphs and create a music so profound and stunning to the fortunate and blessed ears so few of us possess! The brilliance of jazz played can never be over stated! Wat can you say???!!!??

A masterful musician gone too soon. Love his music since my teen years in the 1960s, RIP forever Mr Dolphy...

I've only recently discovered Eric Dolphy's music.  I'm having the same life-changing revelatory experience I had when I first heard  Coltrane (and not because I'm listening to him play Naima!).  The man is immensely talented. I regret having lived so much of my life without his music in it.  Wow.  Just wow!

Omg I love this so much and as a Bass Clarinet player this is the most amazing thing I’ve ever heard I can’t believe how great of an artist Eric Dolphy was!!!!!

Possibly the most beautiful solo sax entrance ever, followed by the most stunning cover of a Coltrane song ever, beyond out there, if this was Eric's last studio session, what truly amazing farewell to the planet earth.

Eric Dolphy Forever! Thanks

Every time I hear Eric Dolphy I realize that James Joyce was the Eric Dolphy of literature.

Eric was as important an innovator as Ornette and Trane.  Thankfully he's well recorded.  His creativity and drive were astonishing.  His proficiency at flute, bass clarinet and alto was sublime.   Like Monk, he's a walking musical instrument in and of himself his music is so large. That and his personal warmth and tender character set him aside as a truly great man.  His bass clarinet playing here is magnificent.  Nice arrangement, too, although some of the solos before Eric plays are weak..                                                    ...

Dolphy is my favorite.  Miles my hero for so much influence , but listen dolphy on oliver nelson's the blues and the abstract truth.  Stolen moments is chilling one of those songs like so what, that seems so familiar like we were born with a ring of it in our head.  Mingus adored him, trane said , which was unheard of, he was his only equal though they were quite different.  Eric on alto, bass clarinet, flute.  Listen to dolphy solo on clarinet do God bless the child and many music students still find it cutting edge implementation of instrument just that far ahead of his time.  50 years ahead of his tine or just shooting bstar.  Marvelous picture!!!!!!  The VV recordings with Cotrane naima, spiritual, miles mode, its just incredible and his work with Mingus.  Just love his sound thanks for posting!!  He is well recorded and photographed thankfully theres a back and white with him and trane with flute in hands two horns hanging from neck...its incredible Clarinet is huge but trane similary multiple instruments.

Dolphy also knew Naima. So this is not just about his friendship with Trane.

As brilliant as his miraculous deconstruction of "God Bless the Child". Tragically for us, another example of having true genius taken away too early to transform our lives to ecstacy.

Thanks for posting ❤❤❤ Red Garland, Roland Hanna, Curtis Fuller so many people are not getting the respect

He could play solo instrument like bass clarinet on Naima. One of his albums was Eric playing solo flute. Nothing but him and the flute. Like a bird. From another world.