Eric Dolphy

Eric Dolphy's visionary spirit left an indelible impression on jazz, especially in shaping the earliest phases of the free jazz movement, but it also affected many facets of how the artform evolved through the early '60s. A composer and multi-instrumentalist who primarily played bass clarinet, flute, and alto sax, Dolphy is often credited with bringing bass clarinet into the jazz arena, and his approach to soloing on all of his instruments pushed the boundaries of bebop until the sounds resembled something new altogether. With improvisation characterized by wide intervals, con...