Eric Dolphy

The premier avant-garde release on the Blue Note label, this 1964 masterpiece remains forward thinking and oddly approachable. The key may be that Eric Dolphy is excited about creating the music in his mind rather than trying to be cool or cutting edge. Vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson and drummer Tony Williams alternate between time-keeping and floating away from the beat, going for a feel that is non-Western yet completely New York City. Dolphy and Freddie Hubbard trade statements and solos, while Richard Davis' work on the title cut belongs in the Bass Players Hall of Fame.