Charles Mingus Play Piano

This 2-CD set compiles all of the music recorded by the Charles Mingus Quintet with Max Roach as the guest star during a fruitful and extended evening in 1955. Most but not all of the material appeared on the LPs "Mingus at the Bohemia" (Debut Records DEB-123) and "The Charles Mingus Quintet Plus Max Roach" (Fantasy 6009), while the rest were issued on different compilations.

The centenary of the birth of Charles Mingus, in April 2022, has served to reinforce his importance in twentieth-century music. His “achievements surpass in historic and stylistic breadth those of any other major figure in jazz.” (New Grove Dictionary). Mingus could be angry, even violent, but also loving and tender, and all of these aspects of his complex character are reflected in his music. As he once said, “I'm trying to play the truth of what I am. The reason it's difficult is because I am changing all the time.”

Charles Mingus - Charles Mingus and Friends In Concert (1972) {2CD Set, Columbia C2K 64975 rel 1996}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 860 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 319 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 93 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1972, 1996 Columbia / Legacy / Sony Music | C2K 64975
Jazz / Post Bop / Modern Big Band / Bass

Most of Charles Mingus's larger-group recordings, particularly in the later part of his career, tended to be unruly and somewhat undisciplined. This two-CD reissue set (which adds five selections to the original two-LP program), which celebrated Mingus's return to jazz after six years of little activity. Such great jazzmen as baritonist Gerry Mulligan, tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons, altoist Lee Konitz, pianist Randy Weston, James Moody (heard on flute) and a variety of Mingus regulars had a chance to play with the great bassist; even fellow bassist Milt Hinton and Bill Cosby (taking a humorous scat vocal) join in.

Charles Mingus - Mingus Three (1957) {Roulette 724385715525 rel 1997}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 115 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 78 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 11 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1957, 1997 Roulette / Capitol Records | 724385715525
Jazz / Post Bop / Jazz Blues / Bass / Piano Trio

Most often heard in large ensembles and rarely in a trio context, Charles Mingus joined forces with pianist Hampton Hawes for this 1957 studio date. It features four standards, two originals by the bassist, and a jam by the group credited to Hawes. While there's nothing particularly arresting or startling about the date, the relationship between the two ostensible co-leaders is a good case study in group dynamics when deference between two strong-willed individualists turns into a certain amount of compromise.