Eric Dolphy & Booker Little

The Profile

Eric Dolphy (1928–1964) was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist known for alto saxophone, flute and bass clarinet. Booker Little (1938–1961) was an American jazz trumpeter. They recorded the album Far Cry together.

Both musicians died young: Booker Little died in 1961 of kidney failure at age 23; Eric Dolphy died in 1964 in Berlin from complications related to diabetes. Far Cry features Jaki Byard, Ron Carter and Roy Haynes. Dolphy later recorded and performed with Charles Mingus and John Coltrane.

A single DeBaser review praises Far Cry as a prime example of Dolphy and Little's collaborative peak. The review highlights melodic and free-form pieces, the duo's tight interplay, and the strong support from Jaki Byard, Ron Carter and Roy Haynes. The writer laments both musicians' premature deaths and recommends the album as an introduction.