Complete Dolphy Prestige Box Set

[Leeway]

I'm developing a real Dolphy addiction, which is leading me to buying the Complete Prestige Dolphy box set. I have a good excuse as my birthday is coming up next month, so might even be able to get the wife to buy it .

Anyway, anyone have this set? What do you think? I like the idea of the chronological arangement in theory; how does it work out in practice? Also, how is the sound quality?

Comments and suggestions from other Dolphy fans and fanatics most welcome.

[B. Goren.]

Dont hesitate Leeway. If you are developing a Dolphy addiction you must have it.

His Prestige recordings are the most important part of his short career.

Edited September 20, 2004 by B. Goren.

[ghost of miles]

If you're developing a Dolphy addiction, the Prestige recordings are a good place to start. Sound is pretty decent (it's a 1995 release, although one or two of the albums within may have come out in the 20K series since then) and there's a lot of important material here, from OUT THERE & FAR CRY to the complete Five Spot recordings with Booker Little and Mal Waldron. I might differ just a bit w/B. Goren & say that it's certainly the most prolific part of his recording career, but in terms of importance, the IRON MAN/CONVERSATIONS/OUT TO LUNCH 1963-64 era might notch just a bit higher... but I still think you should get the Prestige set. B-) I'm glad I did & have been thinking about re-visiting it of late.

You might also want to hunt down VINTAGE DOLPHY, the CD that came out on GM a few years back:

VintageDolphy

More Third-Streamish than what you'll hear on the Prestige box & well worth investigating.

[Claude]

The music is essential for Eric Dolphy fans, except the Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis big band session where Dolphy doesn't solo. Apart from the classic albums (Out There, Far Cry, the Five Spot sessions, the Waldron album) I particularly like the european recordings.

I have bought the box at a very good price ($60) from Zweitausendeins some time ago (the german box has the same mastering) and since then upgraded a couple of albums that have been reissued on K2 remastered CDs. While the remastering of the box set isn't bad, the new CDs sound fuller and smoother and are more enjoyable. This is especially true of the first session (Outward bound) which sounds too thin in the box version. On "Far Cry" and "At the Five Spot Vol.1"the difference is more subtle but easily noticable. I haven't heard the "Out there" hybrid SACD yet.

[couw]

the only downside of the box is that the sessions spill across the disks. This is easily remedied by making some CDr copies of course.

[Shawn]

of course that Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis session IS a very nice date though....so I look at it as a nice bonus....

[sidewinder]

Great version of 'Stolen Moments' by the way on that Lockjaw session. This box is excellent and is my main resource for the Dolphy Prestige material (I don't have much of his on vinyl apart from a BN 'Out to Lunch' and a 3LP America issue '5 Spot' set). Hardly a weak moment throughout the whole box, much of it superlative and with a nice informative booklet too. I recommend this one !

You also get the Mal Waldron session 'The Quest', the Ron Carter dates and those Latin Jazz Qunintet sessions as added bonuses.

Edited September 20, 2004 by sidewinder

[David Ayers]

If you don't already own any Dolphy Prestige be prepared for hearing sessions which are more 'inside' than Out To Lunch. That said, I think you will want to hear almost everything on this set, and eventually replace the essential sessions with K2s or SACDs as and when.

[7/4]

love it.

[sal]

I'm sure the set is fantastic, as is everything Dolphy puts out. However, as mentioned above, many of the sessions are being remastered and re-released. The first Five Spot volume with Booker Little, as well as Far Cry, Out There, and Outward Bound have already been reissued in FANTASTIC new sound quality. One can assume that sessions like Waldron's Quest and the rest of the Five Spot issues will be reissued soon as well.

If it was any other company other than Fantasy, I'd say just go for the box no question (which is still not bad advice), but these Fantasy reissues just sound SO crisp and SO beautiful, that I'm sure you'd end up replacing most of the key sessions in the box. So I guess you could go either way. I hope this post doesn't upset anyone, but when it comes to audio quality, I like to get the best bang for the buck.

[king ubu]

Love the box! No problem with sound, but then I'm no audiophile.

Terrific playing by not only Dolphy but Booker Little, Byard, Oliver Nelson, Roy Haynes, Mal Waldron etc etc. The second of the two Nelson albums is just as good as what is considered his classic, "Blues and the Abstract Truth", if not better.

ubu

[porcy62]

Anyway, anyone have this set? What do you think? I like the idea of the chronological arangement in theory; how does it work out in practice? Also, how is the sound quality?

Do you mean you haven't this set?

You have to see a doctor very soon, or save the money and buy it!!! B-)

[mikeweil]

I love that box, too, and prefer to have the live recordings in that much more concise form.

[Leeway]

I'm sure the set is fantastic, as is everything Dolphy puts out. However, as mentioned above, many of the sessions are being remastered and re-released. The first Five Spot volume with Booker Little, as well as Far Cry, Out There, and Outward Bound have already been reissued in FANTASTIC new sound quality. One can assume that sessions like Waldron's Quest and the rest of the Five Spot issues will be reissued soon as well.

If it was any other company other than Fantasy, I'd say just go for the box no question (which is still not bad advice), but these Fantasy reissues just sound SO crisp and SO beautiful, that I'm sure you'd end up replacing most of the key sessions in the box. So I guess you could go either way. I hope this post doesn't upset anyone, but when it comes to audio quality, I like to get the best bang for the buck.

That's what's hanging me up-- pick up the remasters as they come along, or get the box and have it all now (I do have some Dolphy in LP and CD but not enough ).

This is a tough decision, but all the positives for the box have me inclined that way.

[king ubu]

Another plus of the box is the very good commentary by Zan Stewart (didn't he win some award for them?). He also keeps track of all non-Prestige recordings that took place during those one and a half years, and he goes further back, Dolphy's days with Chico etc. A stylish writer.

ubu

[John L]

The Prestige Dolphy is one of my very favorite box sets. The average quality of the music is incredible high, one home run after another, and it is all sooooooo satisfying and soothing to the jazz-hungry soul.

[sidewinder]

one home run after another.....

Exactly !

[DrJ]

Great music, consistently interesting and enjoyable. Excellent booklet. And personally I love the remastering on the box, it sounds very warm and inviting and vinyl-like to me.

[LAL]

Yes. Another big thumbs up for the set. Like the Eddie Lockjaw session a fair bit too.

[doubleM]

I came very close to buying this puppy when Borders had their 50% off sale. I goofed!!!

[wolff]

While you are out shopping for the CD box set, keep an eye out for the vinyl twofer of "Outward Bound' and "Out There" put out by Fantasy in the late 70's, I believe. Superb remastering by someone with the initials 'RVG'. Should not be expensive. I picked mine up at garage sale, as the owner was upgrading to CD's.

[Tjazz]

I came very close to buying this puppy when Borders had their 50% off sale. I goofed!!!

Any box set at 50% off is a bargain.

[Leeway]

I came very close to buying this puppy when Borders had their 50% off sale. I goofed!!!

Ouch! Yes, that would have been the right deal (not trying to rub it in ).

In fact, I've been lurking about one of the larger CDs stores in the area that carries new and used CDs, in the hopes of picking up a used box at 1/2 off. I suppose I will keep an eye on Borders just in case.