Eric Dolphy.

In the last few weeks I've become mesmerized by the unique (and sometimes insane) sounds of alto sax, bass clarinet, and flute avant-garde jazz player Eric Dolphy.

I never delved into his solo career heavily, but after hearing Coltrane's "The Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings", of which Dolphy was a sidesman, I was hooked.

His style is chaotic yet it all makes sense.

He died at at early age in 1964; Coltrane was also influenced by his playing as were many others... Eric also performed with Charles Mingus and Ornette Coleman and several other jazz greats.

He only released five official albums, his last, "Out to Lunch", was released on Blue Note Records a few months before his death in June 1964.

Here's a live video for you; Eric's solo starts at 1:00.