Charles Mingus

the new Deluxe Edition of Mingus at Carnegie Hall adds a fantastic 72-minute first set ... better get it in your soul

Ts: get it vs get hit

The original single LP version of Mingus At Carnegie Hall was always one of my least favorite Mingus records, just two side-long saxophone contests (versions of the Ellington tunes "Perdido" and "C Jam Blues" with John Handy, George Lewis, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Hamiet Bluiett, and Charles McPherson taking turns trying to out-blow each other). But the rest of the concert is killer, the core band — Lewis, Bluiett, Jon Faddis on trumpet, Don Pullen on piano, and Dannie Richmond on drums — playing Mingus's own music (plus Pullen's "Big Alice"). Now it's a must-hear album, IMO.

The hype sticker on the CD is hilarious:

WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND THE TRUE POWER OF JAZZ’S IMPROVISATIONAL ABILITIES WITH THIS MIND-BENDING PERFORMANCE

Lol

Happy Mingus Centennial!
https://www.cc-seas.columbia.edu/wkcr/story/charles-mingus-centennial-broadcast
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/21/arts/music/charles-mingus-centennial.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch71BX1PskQ

marcello c shared this '64 rehearsal vid earlier, the footage is in such good nick it looked like it could have been filmed yesterday. And quite sadly Dolphy looks in such good health, it's hard to believe he's nearly gone:(

Jaki Byard was another sad futile death, albeit much later as well, shot dead in his apartment. Great pianist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2KDM6TA6ow

I've been on a big Mingus listening spree the last couple of weeks. It got me thinking about what happened with him and Jimmy Knepper and I was curious about the circumstances of Knepper working with Mingus some late in life.

I did not quite find an exact answer, but I did find this interesting article I thought was a good and worthwhile read.

http://americanaejournal.hu/vol10jazz/gabbard

I had forgotten how Charles Mingus and Friends in Concert contains a LOT of Bill Cosby interludes. Or maybe it sunk more in the background back then. Still, "Ecclusiastics"