Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus

Artist: Charles Mingus
Total time: 42:16
Label: Impulse!
Availability: In stock
Item #: 21011238

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Review

Having completed what he (and many critics) regarded as his masterwork in The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, Charles Mingus' next sessions for Impulse found him looking back over a long and fruitful career. Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus is sort of a "greatest hits revisited" record, as the bassist revamps or tinkers with some of his best-known works. The titles are altered as well -- "II B.S." is basically "Haitian Fight Song" (this is the version used in the late-'90s car commercial); "Theme for Lester Young" is "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat"; "Better Get Hit in Your Soul" adds a new ending, but just one letter to the title; "Hora Decubitus" is a growling overhaul of "E's Flat Ah's Flat Too"; and "I X Love" modifies "Nouroog," which was part of "Open Letter to Duke." There's also a cover of Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo," leaving just one new composition, "Celia." Which naturally leads to the question: With the ostensible shortage of ideas, what exactly makes this a significant Mingus effort? The answer is that the 11-piece bands assembled here (slightly different for the two separate recording sessions) are among Mingus' finest, featuring some of the key personnel (Eric Dolphy, pianist Jaki Byard) that would make up the legendary quintet/sextet with which Mingus toured Europe in 1964. And they simply burn, blasting through versions that equal and often surpass the originals -- which is, of course, no small feat. This was Mingus' last major statement for quite some time, and aside from a solo piano album and a series of live recordings from the 1964 tour, also his last album until 1970. It closes out the most productive and significant chapter of his career, and one of the most fertile, inventive hot streaks of any composer in jazz history. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Read About This Recording

Recorded over two days in 1963, this is vintage Mingus. You'll appreciate these recordings of his lively, propulsive Better Git Hit In Yo' Soul and his somber elegy to Prez, Tribute To Lester Young (a.k.a. Goodbye Porkpie Hat), even if you've heard the original versions on Mingus Ah Um.

What could match hearing the master bassist playing his own compositions? Mingus playing Mood Indigo, co-written by Duke Ellington, whom he revered.

There are two sets of 10 piece bands on this album, featuring musicians who can only do his music justice. Drummers Danny Richmond and Walter Perkins, saxophonists Eric Dolphy, Booker Ervin and Jerome Richardson and pianist Jaki Byard, among others, swing hard and true. Mingus plays bass and piano on two tracks.

Mingus' activist sensiblity fueled his songs The Fables of Faubus and A Prayer For Passive Resistance. Freedom, a bonus track Mingus narrates, is in that vein.

Digitally remastered, with the album's original liner notes.

-Richard Antone

Quotes

He can be fascinating and very moving to listen to. -Paul Desmond

II B.S.; IX Love; Celia; Mood Indigo; Better Get Hit in Yo' Soul; Theme For Lester Young; Hora Decubitus; Freedom*.

(*Bonus track not on original LP.)

Charles Mingus, Bass, Piano & Narrator; Eddie Preston, Richard Williams, Rolf Ericson, Trumpets; Britt Woodman, Quentin L. Jackson, Trombones; Don Butterfield, Tuba; Jerome Richardson, Soprano/Baritone Saxes & Flute; Dick Hafer, Woodwinds; Booker Ervin, Tenor Sax; Eric Dolphy, Flute/Alto Sax; Charlie Mariano, Alto Sax; Jaki Byard, Piano; Walter Perkins, Danny Richmond, Drums; Jay Berliner, Guitar.

Tracks + Soundclips

Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus
1. II B.S.	4:48
2. I X Love	7:41
3. Celia	6:14
4. Mood Indigo	4:45
5. Better Get Hit in Yo' Soul	6:30
6. Theme for Lester Young (Goodbye Pork Pie Hat)	5:51
7. Hora Decubitus	4:43
8. Freedom [*]	5:10

Details and Credits

Product Details

Label: Impulse!
Release date: 1963
Instrumental

Styles

Post-Bop
Progressive Big Band
Progressive Jazz

Browse all jazz styles

Album Credits
Performance Credits
Booker Ervin	Sax (Tenor)
Britt Woodman	Trombone
Charles Marino	Sax (Alto)
Charles Mingus	Bass
Charlie Mariano	Sax (Alto)
Dannie Richmond	Drums
Dick Hafer	Clarinet
Don Butterfield	Trombone
Eddie Preston	Trumpet
Eric Dolphy	Flute
Jaki Byard	Piano
Jay Berliner	Guitar
Jerome Richardson	Flute
Quentin Jackson	Trombone
Richard Gene Williams	Trumpet
Rolf Ericson	Trumpet
Walter Perkins	Drums

Technical Credits
Bob Hammer	Arranger
Bob Simpson	Engineer
Bob Thiele	Producer
Erick Labson	Digital Remastering
Hollis King	Art Direction
Jason Claiborne	Design
Joe Alper	Photography
Michael Cuscuna	Reissue Producer
Nat Hentoff	Liner Notes