Eric Dolphy’s swan song; a free jazz masterpiece! Recorded only four months before his tragic death, Out To Lunch sees the jazz flautist at his virtuosic height, both as a soloist and as a bandleader. Alongside trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Tony Williams (who was only 18 at the time), Dolphy crafts complex rhythms and fantastic melodies that push the boundaries of the genre. Although the record was Dolphy’s lone release on Blue Note, it is widely considered to be one of the greatest releases by the legendary jazz record label. "Hat and Beard," "Something Sweet, Something Tender," "Gazzelloni," "Out to Lunch," and the drunken "Straight Up and Down" were all recorded in a single day at the legendary Van Gelder Studio just a few months before Coltrane would do the same with A Love Supreme. 5 tracks remastered on black 180g vinyl, recommended.

• 180g black vinyl pressing
  
• all-analog remaster cut from the original tapes
  
• featuring Eric Dolphy (a. sax, flute), Freddie Hubbard (t), Bobby Hutcherson (vibes), Richard Davis (b), Anthony Williams (d)
  
• music label: Blue Note Records 2021

reviewed by SHH! 09/2021