Eric Dolphy Day
What a glorious day this is!!!! One of our own gets recognized and has a building at the
Eric grew up not even
half a block from the recreation center here in yes, South Central Los
Angeles. So many feelings come up when people here in
Eric is one of my all time favorite players. It is so ironic that his music was the beginning of my downfall at LA’s infamous jazz radio station. (Click here for the inside scoop!)
I only spent a small fraction of the day at the event but, it started off with some of the greatest players, who volunteered there time to come down to pay respect to one of the most prolific and innovative thinkers in jazz music, Eric Allen Dolphy.
I introduced the band which included Bennie Maupin on Bass Clarinet, Flute, Alto and Soprano, Munyungo Jackson on Percussion, Darek Oles on Bass and Michael Stephans on Drums, who was inspired by my article to write his own. Bennie held up his Bass Clarinet and said “If it were not for Eric Dolphy, he and that instrument would not be here” Eric was an early influence on Bennie and as a youngster in Detroit, Bennie used to pull up to the club, sit outside in the car and listen to Eric, Trane and the rest of the cats rehearse. He met Eric after one gig and the warmth of his character touched Bennie as Eric, on break from the gig, spent thirty minutes teaching Bennie about the flute.
This is just one of many beautiful stories that you will hear about this outstanding jazz legend. After a few words about Eric, Bennie proceeded to play a beautifully entrancing composition that he wrote called “Penubra” the space between dark and light. The music soared and enraptured those of us lucky to be on hand in the intimate audience, inside the gym, at the brand new 5 million dollar Eric Dolphy recreation center.
Clora Bryant got up and said a few words about growing up and playing with Eric. Dr. Art Davis was also on hand as well as Dwight Trible, Phil Ranelin, and Teddy Edwards Jr. as well as a few other jazz gems for the festivities. The drummer from the band did a funky bebop hip hop jazz rap and afterwards, there was other poetry that was as cool as the poet!
But, was the jazz
public there? NO. Was there any support for such an occasion from LA’s
local jazz station? NO. Were you there? NO. This is an event that
should have had major media in
Ever since I have met her on the scene some many years ago, she has always been promoting, passing out jazz information and supporting the players and the music on a budget of love. Love! That is what we as those who play, write, support and live this music always work for. Love! Money and recognition would be nice too.
Please open your
ears, listen, understand, love and support jazz music because if you
don’t, the future of our music will be erased here in
LeRoy Downs
