Charles Mingus Rhino

In 1973 Atlantic Records began its second period of recording with Mingus, which resulted in seven studio albums. The story of a new phase in Mingus’ music – his last phase – begins with the recordings in this boxed set. Featuring all of his 1970s output for Atlantic Records, all configurations of the album include previously unreleased outtakes of “Big Alice,” “The Call” and “Music For Todo Modo.” There is also an extra set of takes of “Big Alice” and “The Call” on an Outtakes disc exclusive to the vinyl format.

The Clown was Charles Mingus' second masterpiece in a row, upping the already intense emotional commitment of Pithecanthropus Erectus and burning with righteous anger and frustration. With Pithecanthropus, Mingus displayed a gift for airtight, focused arrangements that nonetheless allowed his players great freedom to add to the established mood of each piece. The Clown refines and heightens that gift; instead of just writing heads that provide launch points for solos, Mingus tries to evoke something specific with every piece, and even his most impressionistic forays have a strong storytelling quality.

Originally recorded in January 19, 1974, Mingus At Carnegie Hall was released as a 1LP that only featured 2 long tracks ("C Jam Blues" and "Perdido") from the concert; one track per LP side, and features Jon Faddis, Charles McPherson, John Handy, George Adams, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Hamiet Bluiett, Don Pullen, and Dannie Richmond. Yet the original concert in January of '74 included 2 hours of performances, but nearly 70+ minutes were left on the cutting room floor. With jazz music on the decline in the US in the 1970s, Atlantic Records was probably concerned about releasing a 3LP set at a higher price point that only the most ardent fans would purchase at the time.

Charles Mingus' finest recordings of his later period are Changes One and Changes Two, two Atlantic LPs that have been reissued on CD by Rhino. The first volume features four stimulating Mingus originals ("Remember Rockefeller at Attica," "Sue's Changes," "Devil Blues" and "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love") performed by a particularly talented quintet (tenor-saxophonist George Adams who also sings "Devil Blues," trumpeter Jack Walrath, pianist Don Pullen, drummer Dannie Richmond and the leader/bassist). The band has the adventurous spirit and chance-taking approach of Charles Mingus' best groups, making this an easily recommended example of the great bandleader's music.

Charles Mingus - Three or Four Shades of Blues (1977) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series WPCR-27206}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 272 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 107 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 11 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24bit remaster
© 1977, 2013 Atlantic / Rhino / Warner Japan / WEA | WPCR-27206
Jazz / Post Bop / Post Bebop / Jazz Blues / Bass

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. I have almost everything available by Mingus and had passed on this because I didn't think I needed yet more versions of some of his classics by what seems like an unlikely crew in tow. How wrong I was!!!! Mingus is apparently playing with a mic on his bass and you can easily hear what a monster he is, how sublime he can be, and it is totally thrilling. Coryell and Catherine have their flurry of notes thing going but it does not come off as showing off or dull fusion riffing. They - and the rest of the band- sound as if they were meant to be, really listening and bringing something wonderfully new to Mingus music.