Jazz
This two-record set is the last remnant of Mingus' brave and profoundly mad attempt to revive for a time the Big Band format. In February, 1972, he gathered 22 of the best working jazzmen in New York, including the members of his own quintet and special friends Gene Ammons, Dizzy Gillespie, Gerry Mulligan and Randy Weston, and sold out Philharmonic Hall on a freezing winter night. The concert was Mingus' first appearance on a New York stage in ten years and from first note to last was an eclectic, jumbled, confusing affair. The producer and master of ceremonies, Bill Cosby, patronized Mingus' audience and distracted the musicians with his buffoonery. Vocalist Honey Gordon was undermiked and inaudible. There was confusion among the under-rehearsed musicians about the order of solos, and there was a general complaint that Mingus didn't make enough display of his artistry on the bass. In spite of all these headaches, this selectively edited and I suspect heavily remixed version of the concert is a gas, at once a tribute to the genius and vision of Mingus and a fine modern Big Band recording.
The program consists of a general Mingus retrospective retooled for the large ensemble, combined with single numbers and suites that Mingus wrote especially for the big band. Classics such as "Jump Monk," "Ecclusiastics" and "E's Flat" are all given new arrangements and sound fresh and ripe. The featured soloist on all three is Gene Ammons on tenor, playing a husky bluesy mix to which the audience often responded audibly. Also to be found here is the rarely played "Eclipse," the deep blue, sexually earthy ballad that Mingus wrote for Billie Holiday. Honey Gordon's deep alto is a sharp contrast to Holiday's style, but she combines with the lowing instrumental section to make this one of the highlights of the album.
What makes this set worth the price of admission is a little mingling of Mingusiana with Ellingtonia called "Us Is Two"; it was the theme that Mingus wrote for his big band and for some reason didn't put on the unsuccessful orchestral album Let My Children Hear Music. It's a gorgeous and swinging trifle with sensation, definitely one of the most pleasing tunes that Mingus has ever composed and it's evident that the musicians liked it too, as it gets the most rousing performance of the night.
This isn't one of Mingus' best albums and is the other direction from the jazz avant-garde, but this music is just fun to get high with and a good look at the latest chapter of the never dull adventures of Charles Mingus. And check out Gene Ammons—to these ears it's the best recording he's ever made.
By Stephen DAVIS.
**
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. Most of the music is overly loose but the overcrowded "E's Flat, Ah's Flat Too" and particularly the "Little Royal Suite" are memorable. The "Little Royal Suite," in addition to Ammons, Konitz, Mulligan, Charles McPherson and Bobby Jones, features an 18-year old Jon Faddis (who was sitting in for an ailing Roy Eldridge) stealing the show.
By Scott Yanow, All Music Guide.
**
I found this rare February 1972 recording showcasing Charlie Mingus backed by an all star New York Jazz line-up to be spectacular. The album marked Mingus' return to the public eye after an extended hiatas. Comedian Bill Cosby is the MC and even does a cute little scat vocal with Dizzy Gillespie. Featured artists included Gerry Mulligan, Gene Ammons and drummer Joe Chambers.
The stand-out piece has to be the 20 minute 'Little Royal Suite' featuring a (then) 18 year old Jon Faddis on trumpet, displaying amazing prowess in the upper register. He steals the show! Mingus himself has very limited solo space showing how generous he was to let his sidemen be heard instead.
This a must have for any Mingus fans collection.
By J.J. Martin.
**
Arranged By - Charles Mingus (tracks: 1-8, 1-10, 2-4) , Sy Johnson (tracks: 1-2 to 1-7, 2-.2, 2-3, 2-6, 2-7)
Bass - Charles Mingus (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-7) , Milt Hinton (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-7)
Conductor, Producer [Original Recordings] - Teo Macero
Drums - Joe Chambers (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-7)
French Horn - Dick Berg (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-7) , Sharon Moe (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-7)
Piano - John Foster (16) (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-7)
Saxophone [Alto] - Charles McPherson (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-7) , George Dorsey (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-7) , Lee Konitz (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-7)
Saxophone [Alto], Flute - Richie Perri (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-7)
Saxophone [Baritone] - Gerry Mulligan (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-7)
Saxophone [Baritone], Clarinet [Bass] - Howard Johnson (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-7)
Saxophone [Tenor] - Gene Ammons (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-7)
Saxophone [Tenor], Clarinet - Bobby Jones (2) (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-7)
Technician [Transfer And Digital Editing] - Danny Kadar (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-7)
Trombone [Tenor] - Eddie Bert (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-7)
Trumpet - Eddie Preston (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-7) , Jon Faddis (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-7) , Lloyd Michaels (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-7) , Lonnie Hillyer (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-7)
Tuba - Bob Stewart (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-7)
Written-By - Charles Mingus (tracks: 1-2 to 1-8, 1-10, 2-2 to 2-4, 2-6, 2-7)
**
1-1. Introduction By Bill Cosby 1:06
Hosted By - Bill Cosby
1-2. Jump Monk 7:28
Soloist, Saxophone [Alto] - Charles McPherson
Soloist, Saxophone [Tenior] - Gene Ammons
Soloist, Trombone - Eddie Bert
Soloist, Trumpet - Lonnie Hillyer
1-3. E.S.P. 9:25
Soloist, Saxophone [Alto] - Lee Konitz
Soloist, Saxophone [Baritone] - Gerry Mulligan
Soloist, Saxophone [Tenor] - Gene Ammons
Soloist, Trumpet - Lonnie Hillyer
1-4. Ecclusiastics 9:31
Soloist, Saxophone [Tenor] - Bobby Jones (2) , Gene Ammons
Soloist, Trumpet - Jon Faddis
1-5. Eclipse 4:03
Vocals - Honey Gordon
1-6. Us Is Two 10:12
Soloist, Saxophone [Alto] - Charles McPherson
Soloist, Saxophone [Tenor] - Bobby Jones (2) , Gene Ammons
1-7. Taurus In The Arena Of Life 4:53
Soloist, Saxophone [Tenor] - Bobby Jones (2) , Gene Ammons
Soloist, Trumpet - Eddie Preston
1-8. Mingus Blues 5:33
Soloist, Bass - Charles Mingus
Soloist, Saxophone [Tenor] - Gene Ammons
1-9. Introduction To Little Royal Suite By Bill Cosby 0:14
Hosted By - Bill Cosby
1-10. Little Royal Suite 20:20
Soloist, Saxophone [Alto] - Charles McPherson , Lee Konitz
Soloist, Saxophone [Baritone] - Gerry Mulligan
Soloist, Saxophone [Tenor] - Gene Ammons
Soloist, Trumpet - Jon Faddis
2-1. Introduction To Strollin By Bill Cosby 0:50
2-2. Strollin' 10:14
Soloist, Clarinet - Bobby Jones (2)
Soloist, Saxophone [Alto] - Lee Konitz , Richie Perri
Soloist, Saxophone [Baritone] - Gerry Mulligan , Howard Johnson
Soloist, Saxophone [Tenor] - Gene Ammons
Soloist, Trombone - Eddie Bert
Soloist, Trumpet - Lonnie Hillyer
Vocals - Honey Gordon
2-3. The I Of Hurricane Sue 11:12
Soloist, Piano - John Foster (16)
Soloist, Saxophone [Alto] - Charles McPherson
Soloist, Saxophone [Tenor] - Bobby Jones (2)
2-4. E's Flat, Ah's Flat Too (A.K.A Hora Decubitus) 17:08
Piano - Randy Weston
Soloist, Bass - Milt Hinton
Soloist, Drums - Joe Chambers
Soloist, Flute - James Moody
Soloist, Saxophone [Alto] - Lee Konitz
Soloist, Saxophone [Baritone] - Gerry Mulligan , Howard Johnson
Soloist, Saxophone [Tenor] - Bobby Jones (2) , Gene Ammons
Soloist, Trumpet - Jon Faddis , Lloyd Michaels , Lonnie Hillyer
2-5. Ool-Ya-Koo 3:54
Vocals - Bill Cosby , Dizzy Gillespie
Written-By - John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie* , Walter "Gil" Fuller*
2-6. Portrait 3:58
Soloist, Bass - Charles Mingus
Vocals - Honey Gordon
2-7. Don't Be Afraid, The Clown's Afraid Too 10:36
Soloist, Bass - Charles Mingus
Soloist, Piano - John Foster (16)
Soloist, Saxophone [Tenor] - Bobby Jones (2)
Soloist, Trumpet - Jon Faddis , Lonnie Hillyer
**
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