Eric Dolphy & Booker Little

Eric Dolphy & Booker Little

August 5, 2026 · 34 min · Season 3 · Episode 104

About this episode

This episode explores the collaboration and careers of saxophonist Eric Dolphy and trumpeter Booker Little.

Saxophonist / multi-instrumentalist Eric Dolphy (born June 20, 1928) and trumpeter Booker Little (born April 2, 1938) were frequent collaborators near the end of their all too brief careers. After establishing himself with the Chico Hamilton group, he went on to perform with John Coltrane and Charles Mingus, as well as his own groups and recordings with Oliver Nelson and George Russell. While often considered a member of the jazz avant-garde, he was just stretching the conventions of tonality and rhythm established by the beboppers in novel and unexpected ways. Trumpeter Little played with Max Roach, replacing the great Clifford Brown in that band. He passed away at the age of 23 of uremia, and Dolphy at 36 of complications of undiagnosed diabetes. Help sponsor St. Michael's Jazz Fest Donate to the Jazz Legends podcast Contact us at stmichaelsjazzfest@gmail.com

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