In Europe 1961-1964

This DVD features Eric Dolphy in two settings, leading a group during a 1961 Berlin concert and as an important sideman in Charles Mingus' greatest small group, his 1964 sextet that toured Europe until shortly before Dolphy's death. Accompanied by pianist Pepsi Auer and trumpeter Benny Bailey, Dolphy is afire on alto sax in his "G.W." (named for bandleader Gerald Wilson), while his loping "245" (incorrectly labeled "Blues Improvisation," this piece was recorded on Dolphy's debut LP, Outward Bound, a year earlier) features some unusual leaps. But the prime track is Dolphy's virtuoso unaccompanied bass clarinet solo of "God Bless the Child." Additional material from this concert appeared in audio form only on the Enja album The Berlin Concerts. There's also a bass/drum feature for George Joyner and Buster Smith of "Blues in the Closet" that omits everyone else. Although the camera work is awkward in spots, the rarity of these performances make up for it. The Charles Mingus Sextet concert from Stockholm in 1964 has appeared on other videotapes and DVDs, but whichever version is acquired, it is an essential purchase for Dolphy fans. The group, which also included trumpeter Johnny Coles (a week prior to a perforated ulcer that sidelined him for the remainder of the tour), tenorist Clifford Jordan, pianist Jaki Byard, and drummer Dannie Richmond, dug into Mingus' challenging originals and arrangements with gusto every night, making multiple versions of songs from the tour worth seeking. There are two highlights in this 50-minute performance, the hard-driving "So Long, Eric" and a wild finale of "Take the 'A' Train" with Byard and Dolphy (on bass clarinet) sparking one another with adventurous solos. Beautifully photographed in black-and-white with an attentive audience, this performance has since been reissued in the Charles Mingus DVD Live in '64. ~ Ken Dryden|