Record Reviews

CHARLES MINGUS ~ MINGUS AH UM (50TH ANNIVERSARY LEGACY EDITION) COLUMBIA 48010 (Barcode: 886974801023) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1959 Released: 2009 Of all American Jazz Masters, the figure of bassist / bandleader / composer Charles MingusFind albums by this artist is surely the most enigmatic, misunderstood and misinterpreted up to this day. Very few people truly understand his revolutionary approach to music in general and Jazz in particular, his ability to free himself and his closely knit circle of musicians from generations of both musical and racial prejudice, both of which can be tragically blind and bitter. Mingus was a musical universe by himself – although associated with Jazz, his music encompassed many forms of music: Blues, Gospel, African Music, all genres of Jazz from Dixieland to Free and in later days even Rock and Fusion. In order to truly comprehend his music one must study and repeatedly listen to his enormous recorded legacy as well as read his words, bequeathed to us in his writings. This beautiful album takes as a step further towards the goal to discover or re-discover the man and his music, as it includes for the first time the complete ColumbiaFind albums on this label recording sessions from 1959, with producer Teo MaceroFind albums by this artist, which resulted in two albums: "Mingus Ah UmFind albums with this title" and "Mingus DynastyFind albums with this title". Both albums are included with many outtakes and alternate tracks, all beautifully remastered and sounding superbly clear and vivid. Rather than repeat myself saying how essential and superb this music is, let me just say that some of the most memorable and everlasting music written by Mingus is present here. Essential you say? I agree!

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

CHARLES MINGUS ~ MINGUS AT CARNEGIE HALL (DELUXE EDITION) ATLANTIC 603497844326 (Barcode: 603497844326) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1974 Released: 2021 This is an expanded reissue / remaster of a live album by legendary American bassist / composer / bandleader Charles MingusFind albums by this artist, recorded on January 19, 1974 at the NY Carnegie Hall. The music was recorded by a sextet, which included trumpeter Jon FaddisFind albums by this artist, saxophonists George AdamsFind albums by this artist and Hamiet BluiettFind albums by this artist, pianist Don PullenFind albums by this artist and drummer Dannie RichmondFind albums by this artist. The sextet was expanded to a nonet on two tracks, with the addition of three saxophonists: John HandyFind albums by this artist, Rahsaan Roland KirkFind albums by this artist and Charles McPhersonFind albums by this artist. This 2CD edition presents seven tracks, adding five tracks (and over seventy minutes) of unreleased material. Four of the tracks last over twenty minutes and one just under twenty minutes. Three of the tracks are original compositions by Mingus, one is by Pullen, one is by Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist, one is a standard and finally one is a short spoken word introduction. The restored sound is absolutely pristine. The music is, in many respects, a closing chapter of American Jazz, which summarizes the great Bebop period and the entry into Free Jazz, offering a gallery of instrumental Masters, who lament the grand times with obvious nostalgic glace over the shoulder, realizing the fact that the ride is over. The great leader / guru, one of the last standing figures of American Jazz, was playing one of the last live concerts in his career and would be dead in a few years and there was nobody in sight to carry the torch. But the music is of course grand, from start to finish, with incredible soloing and great group improvisations, kept carefully in check by the boss. They were, after all, the crème de la crème of the scene at the time and clearly could outplay anybody out there. Mingus’ compositions are ideal vehicles for the orgy of sound and camaraderie that prevails, and despite the fact that they are not innovating anything, they clearly learned the lesson of the decade preceding this recording, laying any doubts about Bebop being over to rest. Overall, this is a monster album, which deserves an honorable place in every decent Jazz records collection, not only because of the incredible amount of great music it offers, but more importantly because of the message it so vividly sends to the Jazz world: Bebop was great, we took everything there was to take from it, now please let it rest in peace!

Updated: 28/01/2024Posted: 28/01/2024

CD 2 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

CHARLES MINGUS ~ MINGUS IN ARGENTINA: THE BUENOS AIRES CONCERTS RESONANCE 2077 (Barcode: 617270123089) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1977 Released: 2025 This is an archival 2CD live album by American bassist / composer / bandleader Charles MingusFind albums by this artist, recorded in Argentina on June 2 and 3, 1977. The music is performed by a quintet, which comprises of Mingus on bass with trumpeter Jack WalrathFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Ricky FordFind albums by this artist, pianist Robert NelomsFind albums by this artist and drummer Dannie RichmondFind albums by this artist. Mingus plays piano on two tracks. The album presents thirteen tracks, six of which last for over ten minutes. Almost all of the material comprises of original Mingus’ compositions. It includes music from the album “Cumbia & Jazz FusionFind albums with this title”, which Mingus recorded shortly before these concerts. The packaging includes an impressive 36-pages booklet with great photographs and essays, as usual with the ResonanceFind albums on this label Records releases. Since the music was recorded a year and a half before Mingus’ death, it is a wonderful document of Mingus and his modus operandi during his last period, which included expanded versions of his classic compositions, like those included herein, with a significant freedom allowed to the band members to improvise in various settings, like solo, duo, trios and so on, periodically returning to the main theme and then floating away again and again. The fact that the music was recorded almost fifty years before this album was released proves how far-thinking and everlasting this music was and still is today. There is of course plenty of opportunities for the individual musicians to show their chops, and it is one of the latest recordings featuring Mingus soloing extensively, although his illness limited his performing abilities. The album offers excellent sound quality and was recorded properly on a multitrack equipment, and the source material was excellently remastered. Overall, this is a classic Mingus recording, which represents his genius as player, composer, bandleader and a Jazz visionary, who always knew exactly what he wanted to say in his music and offered an unwavering dedication to his vision of Jazz, often against the “Jazz establishment” at home. For Mingus many fans and followers, this is an absolute must have in their collection of his recordings, but all true Jazz lovers should find this fascinating. There was, after all, only one Charles Mingus…

Updated: 18/06/2025Posted: 18/06/2025

CD 2 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Recommend To A Friend

CHARLES MINGUS ~ MINGUS THREE (DELUXE EDITION) RHINO 603497841035 (Barcode: 603497841035) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1957 Released: 2022 This is an expanded reissue / remaster of an album by American Jazz bassist / composer / bandleader Charles MingusFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio format with pianist Hampton HawesFind albums by this artist and drummer Dannie RichmondFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album presents the remastered seven original tracks (two Mingus originals, one Hawes original and four standards) on CD1 and eight outtakes from the session, all previously unissued, on CD2. This is a very rare opportunity to hear Mingus in the classic piano trio setting, where his bass playing is exceptionally fitting for this setting and his soloing is out there to be heard distinctly. The relaxed atmosphere of the recording brigs the best out of all three players, and the music swings splendidly, full of little quirks and turns jokingly exchanged between them. The presence of the outtakes, which laid undiscovered for fifty-five years in the vault, is a brilliant addition to the album, and allows both the fans to re-examine the different approaches to the same tune, which the trio tried out, and a couple of aborted attempts at them. Overall, this is a wonderful piece of Jazz history and an exceptional piano trio recording for lovers of Swing and Bebop, played by the best musicians at the time. The remastered sound quality is wonderful and the pleasure of listening to this splendid music can be enjoyed at full. Highly recommended!

Updated: 27/06/2024Posted: 27/06/2024

CD 2 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend