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Far Cry

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Far Cry is Eric Dolphy's third album and was released in 1962 on New Jazz, a sister label of Prestige. He co-led the quintet with trumpeter Booker Little, and it is one of the few recordings of their collaboration. Pianist Jaki Byard, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Roy Haynes had already been heard on his albums before. It was a busy time: he played on Ornette Coleman's Free Jazz and recorded this album on the same day.

The whole first side is a tribute to Charlie Parker. Byard wrote Mrs. Parker of K.C. for Parker's mother and Ode to Charlie Parker. Miss Ann is a musical portrait of a girl Dolphy knew, and it is his best-known composition. In Tenderly he plays alone on alto saxophone, unaccompanied. According to Stuart Nicholson, his style grew out of bebop and Parker, and was not opposed to them, as many critics then thought. Little died ten months later.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Tenderly, where Dolphy plays alone on alto saxophone. Can you hear how the melody remains recognisable while he treats it freely?

Track list

  1. 1Ode to Charlie Parker8:44Apple Music ↗
  2. 2Mrs. Parker of K.C.8:05Apple Music ↗
  3. 3Far Cry3:56Apple Music ↗
  4. 4Miss Ann4:19Apple Music ↗
  5. 5Left Alone6:43Apple Music ↗
  6. 6Tenderly4:21Apple Music ↗
  7. 7It's Magic5:42Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

Categories: Albums and songs