Out to Lunch!
Eric Dolphy · 1964
42 min · 5 tracks · jazz
A daring exploration of dissonance and rhythm that pushes jazz into uncharted territories with bold improvisation.
Top tracks — play these first
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Hat and Beard — This track features complex melodic lines and a vibrant interplay between instruments, exemplifying Dolphy's unique compositional style and improvisational brilliance.
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Something Sweet, Something Tender — The piece showcases Dolphy's ability to blend lyrical beauty with avant-garde elements, creating a haunting atmosphere that contrasts with the album's more frenetic moments.
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Out to Lunch — The title track serves as a centerpiece for the album, featuring intricate rhythms and an extended improvisational section that encapsulates Dolphy's adventurous spirit in music.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album's bold improvisation and unconventional structures mark it as a significant avant-garde jazz work.
What we noticed
- Each track showcases extended improvisation, often exceeding the standard jazz length, with 'Out to Lunch' clocking in at over 10 minutes.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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9/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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9/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- bold improvisation with dissonant textures
- exploratory listening for adventurous minds
- dynamic shifts in rhythm and
- immersive experience through extended tracks
Maybe skip if you
- prefer straightforward melodic lines
- seek instant gratification in music
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Out to Lunch! was Eric Dolphy's final studio album before his untimely death in 1964, marking a significant moment in his career as he was already an influential figure in the avant-garde jazz scene. Released during a period of intense experimentation, this album showcases Dolphy's mastery of multiple instruments and his innovative approach to composition and improvisation.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Ornette Coleman· Albert Ayler· John Coltrane
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Hat and Beard 8:28
- 2 Something Sweet, Something Tender 6:06
- 3 Gazzelloni 7:25
- 4 Out to Lunch 12:10
- 5 Straight Up and Down 8:21
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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