Charles Mingus

Charles Mingus – Mingus Plays Piano (1963/1997) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · November 11, 2022 · Comments off

On this brilliant 1963 release, bassist and composer extraordinaire Charles Mingus delivers a fiery, startling imaginative album of solo piano takes of his compositions, free improvisations, and jazz standards. Included are covers of “Body and Soul” and “I Can’t Get Started,” as well as originals such as “Orange Was the Color of Her Dress, Then Silk Blues.” The classic 1963 release by one of jazz’s great revolutionaries is a great insight into the imagination of one of the most imaginative and prolific jazz musicians of the 20th Century.

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Charles Mingus – Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus (1964/2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · November 11, 2022 · Comments off

Having completed what he (and many critics) regarded as his masterwork in The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, Charles Mingus’ next sessions for Impulse found him looking back over a long and fruitful career. Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus is sort of a “greatest hits revisited” record, as the bassist revamps or tinkers with some of his best-known works. The titles are altered as well – “II B.S.” is basically “Haitian Fight Song” (this is the version used in the late-’90s car commercial); “Theme for Lester Young” is “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat”; “Better Get Hit in Your Soul” adds a new ending, but just one letter to the title; “Hora Decubitus” is a growling overhaul of “E’s Flat Ah’s Flat Too”; and “I X Love” modifies “Nouroog,” which was part of “Open Letter to Duke.” There’s also a cover of Duke Ellington’s “Mood Indigo,” leaving just one new composition, “Celia.” Which naturally leads to the question: With the ostensible shortage of ideas, what exactly makes this a significant Mingus effort? The answer is that the 11-piece bands assembled here (slightly different for the two separate recording sessions) are among Mingus’ finest, featuring some of the key personnel (Eric Dolphy, pianist Jaki Byard) that would make up the legendary quintet/sextet with which Mingus toured Europe in 1964. And they simply burn, blasting through versions that equal and often surpass the originals – which is, of course, no small feat. This was Mingus’ last major statement for quite some time, and aside from a solo piano album and a series of live recordings from the 1964 tour, also his last album until 1970. It closes out the most productive and significant chapter of his career, and one of the most fertile, inventive hot streaks of any composer in jazz history.

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Charles Mingus – Mingus At The Bohemia, December 1955 (2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · November 11, 2022 · Comments off

Mingus at the Bohemia is a live album by Charles Mingus that was recorded at Café Bohemia in New York City on December 23, 1955. It was released in August 1956. Max Roach makes a guest appearance on one track. Other recordings from the same performance were released in 1964 under the title The Charles Mingus Quintet & Max Roach.

Mingus at the Bohemia has also been released under the title Chazz! and credited to The Charles Mingus Quintet.

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Charles Mingus – Jazz in Detroit / Strata Concert Gallery / 46 Selden (2018) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · November 11, 2022 · Comments off

The radical discovery by Amir Abdullah of 5 two-track master tapes in the care of Hermine Brooks – widow of innovative Detroit drummer Roy Brooks – of the Charles Mingus Quintet recorded live in Detroit at Strata Concert Gallery is cause for some serious celebration.

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Charles Mingus – Jazz Composers Workshop (1954-55) (1956/2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · November 11, 2022 · Comments off

Jazz Composers Workshop is an album featuring jazz bassist Charles Mingus. It combines the earlier album Moods of Mingus with a Wally Cirillo session released earlier on the album Wally Cirillo & Bobby Scott. It was released on the Savoy label.

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Charles Mingus – East Coasting (1957/2013) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · November 11, 2022 · Comments off

Mingus originals, except for “Memories of You,” written by Blake-Rasaf, this album was originally recorded in 1957 for Bethlehem Jazz; released in the shadow of his 1962 album Tijuana Moods, East Coasting is finally enjoying the success it should have had from the beginning.

Composer and bassist, Charles Mingus, to this day, has a stature bigger than life, 36 years after his death in 1979. Known for his outbursts of overwhelming emotion, Mingus found music to be his major outlet, and it shows.

East Coasting compiles an array of compositions spanning deep melancholy to ecstatic bursts of energy and smooth, thoughtful mellow tunes. “Memories of You,” shows the incredible piano discourse of famed Bill Evans, as Knepper comes into the spotlight with a strong trombone line. Hadi’s sax does a playful run along the spectrum of notes in this solemn composition.

Bursting into triumphant playfulness, Shaw’s trumpet leads on “East Coasting,” the title track. A wild exposition of interplay among the band members. Evans flexes his keyboard muscle while Mingus backs him with a deep bass in an up-tempo hard bop fling.

“West Coast Ghost” offers a solo bit on bass before being joined by Evans on keyboard. Swinging, bopping, the trumpet sounds a bit muted, bringing a bluesy feel to this jam. Then Hadi kicks in with a sweet, sensual play along the keys on sax. A few mysterious passages lead the listener into several spectrums of emotion before kicking into the next track, “Celia,” where Shaw’s trumpet takes a melancholy lead.

As the title says, “Conversation” is a great interplay between musicians, an intimate interaction with each complimenting the other’s skill. First class all the way–just the way Mingus intended his music, classy, emotional, up close and personal.

Mingus earned his reputation as creator of complex sounds, bursting with energy and emotion. Today, his music is still revered around the world. This album is cause for celebration among Mingus fans.

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Charles Mingus – Cumbia & Jazz Fusion (1977/2011) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · November 11, 2022 · Comments off

Cumbia & Jazz Fusion is an electrifying work that features two extended compositions by one of the most notable figures in twentieth century American music. The title track highlights a varied use of woodwind instruments creating a full-bodied arrangement bursting with Latin and African rhythms. Compelling melodies can be experienced on the blues-inspired swing track “Music For Todo Modo.” The album is a fine recording late in Mingus’ extensive career.

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Charles Mingus – Changes Two (1975/2011) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · November 11, 2022 · Comments off

Innovative jazz composer and bassist Charles Mingus’ 1975 release, “Changes Two” is a refreshing blend of free jazz, bebop and gospel stylings. Mingus’ trademark horn arrangements and stunning melodies are highlighted through this diverse, intriguing and complex repertoire. Included on the album is the cinematic remake of his classic “Orange was the Color of Her Dress, Then Blue Silk,” a vocal rendition of “Duke Ellington’s Sound of Love” featuring Jackie Paris and the colorful “Free Cell Block F, ‘Tis Nazi U.S.A.” This mind-blowing hi-res download is the only way to experience one of jazz’s most legendary players.

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Charles Mingus – At Bremen 1964 & 1975 (2020) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · November 11, 2022 · Comments off

The great bassist and composer Charles Mingus had his diehard supporters and detractors. His explosive intermingling of devil may care attitude, imposing character and aggressive music was sure to rub some listeners the wrong way and was just as likely to attract adventurous fans. But his genius could not be denied; it just may have taken some time to break down barriers.

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Charles Mingus – A Modern Symposium Of Music And Poetry (Original Recording Remastered 2013) (1957/2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · November 11, 2022 · Comments off

Don’t expect any poetry here, however an extended spoken word narration by actor Mel Stewart does kicks off the album. That’s where the vocals begin and end on this instrumental collection. Mingus and his brilliant musicians do the talking here: the Penguin Guide To Jazz calls Clarence Shaw’s performance on New York Sketchbook – “the best trumpet heard on a Mingus album for some time before or since”.

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Charles Mingus – Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus (1960/2022) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · October 27, 2022 · Comments off

Charles Mingus - Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus (1960/2022) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz] Download

Charles Mingus has a fascinating way of offering music that is grounded in tradition while remaining startlingly original. The freshness of a disc like Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus, has the effect of rendering much of what passes for jazz as tedious. The band is small for Mingus, and includes Eric Dolphy on alto saxophone and bass clarinet, Ted Curson on trumpet, and Dannie Richmond on drums. It would be one of Dolphy and Curson’s last recording dates with the artist, and they seem determined to go all out for it. The leader’s bassline kicks off “Folk Forms No. 1,” followed by Dolphy outlining the melody, and then joined by Curson. A simple riff develops into a lively New Orleans funeral march that’s developed for 12 minutes. “Original Faubus Fables” is serious in intent – a political attack on segregation governor Faubus – but Mingus and Richmond’s singing is difficult to listen to with a straight face. Still, this doesn’t distract from the wonderful music. Again and again, the elasticity of the sound is fascinating, at once spacious with the bass and drums balanced against the brass and then noisy, with the horns wailing and crying. The last two pieces, “What Love?” and the outrageously titled “All the Things You Could Be by Now if Sigmund Freud’s Wife Was Your Mother,” are much looser, bordering on free jazz. The album accomplishes what the best of Mingus accomplishes: the perfect tension between jazz played as an ensemble and jazz played as totally free.
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Charles Mingus – Mingus Three (feat. Hampton Hawes & Danny Richmond) (1957/2022) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · October 27, 2022 · Comments off

Charles Mingus - Mingus Three (feat. Hampton Hawes & Danny Richmond) (1957/2022) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz] Download

Mingus Three (also referred to as Trio) is an album by American bassist, composer and bandleader Charles Mingus with pianist Hampton Hawes and drummer Dannie Richmond which was recorded in 1957 and first released on the Jubilee label
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Charles Mingus and Jazz Artists Guild – Newport Rebels (1960/2019) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · July 16, 2022 · Comments off

In 1960 bassist Charles Mingus helped to organize an alternative Newport Jazz Festival in protest of Newport’s conservative and increasingly commercial booking policy. The music on this LP (which has been reissued on CD) features some of the musicians who participated in Mingus’s worthy if short-lived venture. Trumpeter Roy Eldridge performs three numbers with pianist Tommy Flanagan, Mingus and drummer Jo Jones; of greatest interest is “Mysterious Blues” for it adds trombonist Jimmy Knepper and the unique altoist Eric Dolphy successfully to the group. The other selections match up drummers Max Roach and Jo Jones with Roach’s quintet (featuring trumpeter Booker Little) on “Cliff Walk” and feature singer Abbey Lincoln on “Tain’t Nobody’s Bizness If I Do.”…

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Charles Mingus – MIngus, The Lost Album From Ronnie Scott’s (2022) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · July 1, 2022 · Comments off

Yet more buried treasure unearthed with this magnificent 3-CD set of previously unreleased recordings from the great jazz bassist/composer/bandleader Charles Mingus(1922-79) at Ronnie Scott’s Club on the evenings of August 14 & 15, 1972.

With Mingus(bass) were Bobby Jones(tenor sax, clarinet); Charles McPherson(alto sax); Jon Faddis(trumpet); John Foster(piano) & Roy Brooks(drums, musical saw) all in blistering form.

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Charles Mingus – Pre-Bird (1961/2022) [Official Digital Download 24bit/48kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · June 30, 2022 · Comments off

This pair of 1960 studio sessions represents some of Charles Mingus’ best arrangements. Leading the smaller of two groups, he interpolates “Exactly Like You” into a driving version of “Take the ‘A’ Train” and adds a soulful blues, “Prayer for Passive Resistance,” both of which feature great solos by tenor saxophonists Booker Ervin, Yusef Lateef, and Joe Farrell. A much larger ensemble is utilized on three tracks, including the advanced bop “Mingus Fingus No. 2” and “Bemoanable Lady,” which features a rather strangely conservative alto sax solo by Eric Dolphy. Less successful are Lorraine Curson’s vocals on the dissonant “Eclipse” and pulsating “Weird Nightmare.” But this reissue, re-released previously under the title Mingus Revisited, has received a superb 24-bit remastering.

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