Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus
Cobbled from two sessions in 1963, this is one of Charles Mingus's stormiest recordings. From the blues-painted bass moaning that opens "II BS," a faster vamp on "Haitian Fight Song," to the blazing fire of "Hora Decubitis," these tunes come furiously barreling out one after another. Speed and density aside, however, there are also multicolor, lovely tunes likeEllington's "Mood Indigo" and Mingus's paean toLester Young(elsewhere dubbed "Goodbye Porkpie Hat"). More than anything, though, this is a major document thanks to the presence of the big ensemble, harmonized by the lateJaki Byardon piano and fronted by a herd of horn-players,Eric DolphyandBooker Ervinchief among them.--Andrew Bartlett