Sound Advice: CD Reviews - Charles Mingus Blues & Roots

CD Review:
This is Charles Mingus' answer to critic's (especially Amiri Baraka, the Greenwich Village poet and playwright) condemnation of his work. Calling Mingus out by stating that his music was too European (or white) and had no swing, the bassist and composer shut them up with this brilliant album. Recorded on Feb. 4th, 1959 and released in April (4th) of 1960, Mingus moved through all the traditional music played by African Americans through the ages.

Although I prefer vocal jazz and blues, with Charles Mingus, and especially this album, I will always make an exception. An album that features 10 musicians, including the rare combination of 4 saxophones and two trombones without a trumpet to counter it, he even added two pianos. As this album is a must in a library of Mingus' greats, the other 9 musicians should not be left anonymous. They are:

Jackie McLean - Alto Sax
John Handy - Alto Sax
Booker Ervin - Tenor Sax
Pepper Adams - Baritone Sax
Jimmy Knepper - Trombone
Willie Dennis - Trombone
Horace Parlan - Piano
Mal Waldron - Piano
Dannie Richmond - Drums

Pepper Adams was one of the greats best known for his recordings with trumpeter Donald Byrd (10 to 4 at the Five Spot being their most acclaimed recording in 1958). Booker Ervin played with Mingus frequently during 1956-62, his solo work was best when he was with Prestige starting with Exultation in 1963 and finishing with Heavy! in 1966.

John Handy was probably Mingus' greatest contributor musically during Mingus' 1958-60 period. Handy's best work came in the '60s with Columbia with his live session in 1965 at the Monterey Jazz Festival being his masterpiece. Jimmy Knepper made his name with Mingus and recorded some sessions with Pepper Adams. The album with Pepper (Pepper-Knepper Quintet) in 1958 is probably his best. Horace Parlan also made his name with Mingus in the late '50s and became famous for his hard bop style on Blue Note.

Dannie Richmond was Mingus' most loyal musician and didn't have much of an output as a leader. Mal Waldron made his name with Mingus as well as being Billie Holiday's accompanist on her last albums in the late '50s. Willie Dennis was mostly known for his work with Mingus, Benny Goodman and Buddy Rich. He didn't have much of a solo career. Finally, Jackie McLean was quite a prolific leader after leaving Mingus in 1959. His 21 albums with Blue Note were the peak of his career with New Soil in '59 and his move from hard bop to avant-garde jazz with Let Freedom Ring in '62 as his probable best.

Like the title indicates, Blues & Roots has Mingus moving through all the types of music that afro-American musicians have played since the time of slavery. Taking on themes like blues, jazz, bop, and gospel, Mingus never seemed out of his element as his more experimental works might tend to indicate.

The album was re-issued in 1998 on Rhino. The re-issue includes the original 6 songs plus 4 extras (alternate takes of "Wednesday Night...," "Tensions," "My Jelly Roll Soul" and "E's Flat...") as well as the original liner notes, and added photographs.

If your jazz taste focuses on the slow and romantic, then this album will probably not impress you. But if you enjoy upbeat and bouncy numbers, then this album is for you. Although the album slows down in parts, it's the upbeat sections that sold me on it. It is quite an enjoyable instrumental release lasting just under forty minutes and well worth your time and money.

Scott D. Brown