Outward Bound (album)


Outward Bound is a jazz album by Eric Dolphy, released in 1960. His first album as leader, it is somewhat less adventurous and more oriented towards straight bebop than the majority of his later recordings.
Of the three Dolphy originals on the album, "G.W." is dedicated to the Californian bandleader Gerald Wilson, "Les" is named after the trombonist Lester Robinson, and "245" was the number of Dolphy's house.
Jazz critic Martin Williams wrote the following about the album: "From the first selection on Dolphy's first album under his own name... it was obvious that fresh and important talent had arrived." All About Jazz reviewer Douglas Payne described the album as "an ardently passionate gathering with pristine contributions from some of jazz's most flexible avatars... The music ranks, perhaps, as some of Dolphy's most accessible and most easily enjoyed." Reviewer J. Hunter wrote the following about "G.W.": "While the rest of the band lays down beats and fills that would not be out of place on any bop date, Dolphy steps out of the head to blister us with a mind-boggling, lightning-fingered alto solo that threatens to go over a cliff at any moment. Dolphy and his partners maintain this unorthodox balancing act throughout the 1960 session."

Track listing

All songs by Eric Dolphy except where noted.
  1. "G.W." – 7:57
  2. "On Green Dolphin Street" – 5:44
  3. "Les" – 5:12
  4. "245" – 6:49
  5. "Glad to Be Unhappy" – 5:26
  6. "Miss Toni" – 5:40

    Personnel