Eric Dolphy Radio Three • Out To Lunch
20 Thursday Jul 2017
Written by William E (Bill) Smith in On The Radio
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Originally Broadcast on June 11th, 2017
Part Three of this radio series showcasing the music of Eric Dolphy features John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Richard Davis, Andrew Hill, Misha Mengelberg…
Eric Dolphy & Misha Mengelberg [photographer unknown]
End Notes:
This life-size statue of Eric Dolphy celebrates Dolphy Day, and stands in the Dablon quad at Le Moyne College, Syracuse, New York.
DOLPHY DAY
SYRACUSE, New York – To mark the 40th anniversary of the first celebration of Dolphy Day at Le Moyne, the College has launched “The Eric Dolphy Project,” an effort encompassing the commission of a bronze sculpture of legendary jazz musician Eric Dolphy and a series of events around the statue’s unveiling on the campus.
Dolphy Day is traditionally celebrated on the first warm day in April. The tradition came about when a group of students decided to take a break from classes to enjoy the warmth of a spring day in April 1971. Originally taking its name from the Frank Zappa song, “The Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue,” students spent the day listening to, among other genres, Dolphy’s jazz music blaring from speakers – and by the end of that day “Dolphy Day” was born.
“Having a vibrant tradition like Dolphy Day is a testament to the immense pride and strong connection so many have for Le Moyne and their time on the Heights,” said Le Moyne President Fred P. Pestello, PhD. “The College wanted to mark and celebrate this milestone in a unique and significant way.”
From its prominent location in the Dablon quad, this life-size bronze sculpture will stand watch over future Dolphy Days for years to come. Created by twin brother artists Kyle and Kelly Phelps, the sculpture will depict Eric Dolphy wailing a jazz rift on his alto saxophone. The sculpture is the only such piece of art in the world honoring Dolphy, one of the jazz world’s true legends.
The College plans to announce the establishment of the Eric Dolphy Endowed Scholarship, to be awarded annually to a Le Moyne College performing arts/music student. The College has launched an aggressive fundraising campaign to support the project.
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Special Thanks Go To: http://www.jazzdisco.org/eric-dolphy/discography/ which helped me construct this show.