LAST DATE [SACD Hybrid] w/ Disk Union Bonus Magnet

[Machine Translation]

This is the final studio recording made by Eric Dolphy-who was racing ahead at the forefront of the modern jazz world-just one month before his sudden death in Berlin. The tones of the alto saxophone, flute, and bass clarinet are brought back to life here with a pure, fresh sound, free of any artifice.

This release features both stereo and monaural versions on the Super Audio CD layer. Please enjoy the differences and the distinct atmosphere each offers.


- A Super Audio CD Hybrid Release with ESOTERIC's Unparalleled Attention to Detail
ESOTERIC's classic reissue series continues to receive high acclaim for its relentless dedication to the original master sound and the overwhelming improvement in sound quality achieved through Super Audio CD hybrid technology. We have DSD-mastered these albums-which have been hailed as definitive classics since their release and have never disappeared from the catalog to this day-using technology and sensibilities evolved from the original masters, achieving the world's first Super Audio CD hybrid format. This time, we are releasing Super Audio CD hybrid versions of legendary performances and recordings representative of the analog era, selected from the Fontana label's catalog.



- The recording that served as the highlight of his three-month stay in Europe
Eric Dolphy passed away in Berlin on June 29, 1964. This is the final studio session he recorded approximately one month prior to his death. Immediately after this recording, Dolphy traveled alone from Amsterdam to Paris. His girlfriend, Joyce Mordecai, was training in ballet there, and he went to see her. The couple, who were reportedly planning to marry in August, spent about a month in Paris. During that time, Dolphy played sessions with Donald Byrd and local musicians, and on June 27, he left for Berlin to perform at the club "Tangent." There, his chronic diabetes worsened, and he was forced to cancel his third scheduled set at the "Tangent," performing only two. He passed away at 7:00 p.m. on the 29th at Achenbach Hospital.
Eric Dolphy had traveled to Europe in April of that year to accompany the "Jazz Workshop," led by Charles Mingus, on their European tour. However, after the tour ended, Dolphy was the only one who remained in Europe. The highlight of his three-month stay in Europe, which ended in his sudden death, was the recording of this album, *The Last Date*.




- Dolphy's Final Lament, Etched into the Jazz Scene of 1964: A Year of Turmoil and Transformation
1964. In Japan, this was the year the Shinkansen opened in October and the Tokyo Olympics were held, but it was also a time of great upheaval not only in Japan but around the world, marked by events such as the assassination of Kennedy in November of the previous year. Major shifts were also taking place in the world of music. In January, the Beatles swept the U.S. charts, and their subsequent U.S. tour and appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show were reported as global events. At the same time, the jazz world was entering a period of significant and diverse change. The previous year, "The Girl from Ipanema" by Stan Getz, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Joao Gilberto had been a massive hit, sparking a bossa nova boom. By the end of the year, Lee Morgan had recorded "The Sidewinder," blending rock beats with jazz. In 1965, Ramsey Lewis's "The Incrood" dominated the charts, and plans began to emerge for jazz albums centered on easy listening backed by orchestras, marking the rise of jazz aimed at the mainstream hit market. Meanwhile, avant-garde free jazz-considered a radical form of the avant-garde-also gained momentum. In July 1964, Albert Ayler recorded *Spiritual Unity*, and in the fall, avant-garde-oriented musicians gathered in New York for an event dubbed the "October Revolution of Jazz," which also garnered significant attention. Modern jazz, considered to be at the cutting edge and with Eric Dolphy among its leading figures, was also poised to make a major leap forward. Miles Davis performed in Japan in the summer of 1964, and in the fall, saxophonist Wayne Shorter joined the group, completing the "Golden Quintet" that would lead the 1960s. Meanwhile, John Coltrane recorded *A Love Supreme*, considered his masterpiece, at the end of the year, marking the peak of his quartet's creative period. It was during this turbulent and diverse era that Eric Dolphy lost his life in Berlin, having recorded *Last Date*-considered his masterpiece-at a Dutch radio station just about a month earlier.




- A Perfect Performance and Recording Following Meticulous Rehearsals
After the April performances with the Mingus Group, Eric Dolphy remained in Europe alone and spent most of May in Paris with Joyce Mordecai. Then, on the 29th, he headed to the Netherlands. His primary objective was to perform a live broadcast concert for the Dutch broadcaster VARA (Vara) . Vara was located in Hilversum, a town known as the "media capital" for its beautiful green scenery, situated within a 30-minute train ride from Amsterdam and Utrecht. The lineup for the broadcast recording was a piano trio arranged by the local promoter.
Pianist Misha Mengelberg, the nephew of the renowned conductor Willem Mengelberg, was a classically trained musician with a deep understanding of contemporary music-making him the ideal jazz player for Dolphy. Bassist Jack Scholes is one of the Netherlands' leading bassists, having performed frequently with world-class musicians such as singer Ann Burton and pianist Louis van Dijk. Drummer Han Benning is one of Europe's foremost masters, boasting a global reputation and career as a free jazz drummer.

Meticulous planning sessions and rehearsals with them took place almost daily leading up to the recording. The recording took place on the evening of Tuesday, June 2, with everything in perfect order. Several listeners, in addition to the production staff, were present in the studio, creating an atmosphere akin to a studio live performance. Arriving at the studio around 8:30 p.m., they played "Epitrophe" as a test take. Afterward, adjustments were made to the volume balance and microphone placement. Once Eric Dolphy was satisfied with everything, the recording finally began.
Starting with the explosive intro of "Epistrophe," Dolphy and his group delivered a soul-stirring performance. The final track, "Miss Ann," ended at 11:00 PM. Leaving the studio, Dolphy remarked, "I have to get back to Paris early tomorrow."


- The simple, fresh, live sound unique to radio recordings brings out the realism of the performance!

The original release was in mono. For this release, we traced the tapes back to what we determined to be the originals as much as possible, mastered them, and included all six tracks.
In this session, Dolphy plays three instruments: bass clarinet, flute, and alto saxophone. Enjoying these distinct timbres is one of the charms of this disc. Achieving superb sound quality was essential to this end, and the result is a magnificent sound that has been brought back to life here.
As always, the remastering process aimed to faithfully reproduce the master's sound, resulting in a tighter, more focused impression of both individual notes and the overall sound than in previous releases.
The atmosphere remains entirely natural, as if you were listening to a live recording, and the sound feels remarkably natural and vivid by today's standards.
This release primarily features the stereo audio released later, though it also includes the original monaural audio from the initial release. The stereo mix is not the so-called "ping-pong stereo"-where instruments are split between left and right channels, which was the mainstream approach at the time-but rather a monaural-based arrangement where instruments are concentrated in the center, creating a natural effect that gives a sense of spaciousness to the reverberations and applause. We hope you will appreciate the atmosphere, which is even more immersive than the monaural version.
In the opening of the legendary performance of "You Don't Know What Love Is"-specifically the section featuring the flute and the bowed bass-the reverberations seem to expand throughout the space, evoking the atmosphere of a live performance. You can fully appreciate the tones of the three instruments Dolphy masterfully employs, and we have crafted this into a "one-time performance" that allows you to fully savor the excellence of a broadcast recording free from any artificial processing.



- Mastering Aimed at Accurately Reproducing the Raw Essence of Jazz, a Genre That Has Embraced Diversity
Although this is a classic album from the late 1960s, when stereo recording became established in jazz, this is the first time it has been released as a SuperAudio CD hybrid. We performed digital mastering specifically for SuperAudio CD from the original master. As with all previous Esoteric projects, every step-from the selection of the master to the final DSD mastering process-was carried out without compromise. In particular, for the DSD mastering process, we employed Esoteric's top-of-the-line equipment-meticulously calibrated DA converters and a rubidium clock generator-and made liberal use of the company's MEXEL cables, ensuring that every bit of information contained in the original master was faithfully transferred to disc.



- A performance that reveals the most raw emotions of Eric Dolphy's entire career
"Every note of Dolphy's music strikes a chord. 'You Don't Know What Love Is' is the finest performance ever rendered on the flute. His playing, which powerfully conveys human emotion, contains a heart-wrenching cry, yet is imbued with an indescribable beauty. The opening track on bass clarinet showcases Dolphy's distinctive style, and the piano trio also delivers a superb performance." (Modern Jazz Masterpieces: The Definitive 500, ONTOMO MOOK, Ongaku no Tomosha, 1993)


"While Dolphy's signature mid-tempo grooves are certainly noteworthy, this album also features an exquisite ballad performance on the flute. The collaboration with Mengelberg and others-who would later become leaders of European free jazz-is also superb. Along with the famous quote recorded at the end, 'Music vanishes into the air and can never be recaptured' (spoken in his own voice), the eternal jazz legacy left by this genius is etched here." (Gold Disc Encyclopedia, Swing Journal Co., 1998)


"His flute playing, as if foretelling his own death, is truly Dolphy's anguished cry-a performance that lays bare the most raw emotions of his entire life. Throughout the album, one can feel the heartwarming humanity of Eric Dolphy, one of the purest artists jazz has ever produced." (Jazz Record Encyclopedia '79, Swing Journal Co., 1979)


"From the intro of the opening track, which begins with a tentative feel, Dolphy plays bold phrases that drag the listener into his world. It is also memorable how the Dutch players provide support filled with reverence and admiration in the face of 'God's' playing." (The Complete New Edition: 500 Modern Jazz Masterpieces, Ongaku no Tomosha ONTOMO MOOK, 1999)



- Eric Dolphy (b-cl, fl, as)
Misha Mengelberg (p)
Jack Scholes (b)
Han Bennink (ds)



[Recording] June 2, 1964, VARA Studio 56, Hilversum, Netherlands
[First Release] Fontana 681 008 ZL (MONO) 1965 / Limelight LM 82013 (MONO) LS 86013 (STEREO) 1965
[First Japanese Release] Mercury SMX-7009 (STEREO) 1968


[Original Recording]
[Producer] Michael de Reuter
[Recording Engineer] Jos van Huikeloom


[Super Audio CD Producer] Yutaka Yoshida (Esoteric Mastering Center)
[Super Audio CD Executive Producer] Motoaki Omachi (Esoteric Mastering Center)
[Super Audio CD Remastering Engineer] Shinya Higashino (Esoteric Mastering Center)

[Super Audio CD Remastered] April 2026, Esoteric Audio Room, "Esoteric Mastering" System


[Liner Notes] Masamichi Okazaki, Ryusuke Nozawa
[Planning & Sales] TEAC Corporation


[Planning & Cooperation] Tokyo Denka Co., Ltd.

Track List
1. Epistrophe (stereo)
2. South Street Exit (stereo)
3. The Madrigal Speaks, The Panther Walks (stereo)
4. Hypocristomatry Fuzz (stereo)
5. You Don't Know What Love Is (stereo)
6. Miss Ann (stereo)
7. Epistrophe (mono) *Included only on the SACD layer
8. South Street Exit (mono) *Included only on the SACD layer
9. The Madrigal Speaks, The Panther Walks (mono) *Included only on the SACD layer
10. Hypocristomatry Fuzz (mono) *Included only on the SACD layer
11. You Don't Know What Love Is (mono) *Included only on the SACD layer
12. Miss Ann (mono) *Included only on the SACD layer

4907034226177
Product Number ESSJ90325

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