Mingus Ah Um
Charles Mingus debut for Columbia Mingus Ah Um is a stunning summation of the bassist's talents and probably the best reference point for beginners. While there's also a strong case for The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady as his best work overall, it lacks Ah Um s immediate acccessibility and brilliantly sculpted individual tunes. Mingus compositions and arrangements were always extremely focused, assimilating individual spontaneity into a firm consistency of mood, and that approach reaches an ultra-tight zenith on Mingus Ah Um The band includes longtime Mingus stalwarts already well versed in his music, like saxophonists John Handy Shafi Hadi and Booker Ervin trombonists Jimmy Knepper and Willie Dennis pianist Horace Parlan and drummer Dannie Richmond Their razor-sharp performances tie together what may well be Mingus greatest, most emotionally varied set of compositions. At least three became instant classics, starting with the irrepressible spiritual exuberance of signature tune "Better Get Hit in Yo' Soul," taken in a hard-charging 6/8 and punctuated by joyous gospel shouts. "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" is a slow, graceful elegy for Lester Young who died not long before the sessions. The sharply contrasting "Fables of Faubus" is a savage mockery of segregationist Arkansas governor Orval Faubus portrayed musically as a bumbling vaudeville clown (the scathing lyrics, censored by skittish executives, can be heard on Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus . The underrated "Boogie Stop Shuffle" is bursting with aggressive swing and elsewhere there are tributes to Mingus three most revered influences: "Open Letter to Duke" is a suite of three tunes; "Bird Calls" is inspired by Charlie Parker and "Jelly Roll" is an idiosyncratic yet affectionate nod to jazz s first great composer, Jelly Roll Morton It simply isn't possible to single out one Mingus album as definitive, but Mingus Ah Um comes the closest. [The 1999 remastered reissue includes four of the original tracks in an unedited form never heard before on CD, and adds three bonus tracks not on the original LP.] ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
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Mingus Ah Um
- UPC:
- 074646551264
- Label:
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Columbia/Legacy
- Released:
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2/29/2000
- Rating:
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0
- Disc:
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1
- Genre:
-
Music
| | Title | Time |
Preview
|
| 1 | Better Git It In Your Soul | 7:21 |
|
| 2 | Goodbye Pork Pie Hat | 9:04 |
|
| 3 | Boogie Stop Shuffle | 4:59 |
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| 4 | Self-Portrait In Three Colors | 3:08 |
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| 5 | Open Letter To Duke | 5:49 |
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| 6 | Bird Calls | 6:18 |
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| 7 | Fables Of Faubus | 8:13 |
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| 8 | Pussy Cat Dues | 15:13 |
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| 9 | Jelly Roll | 6:15 |
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| 10 | Pedal Point Blues | 6:28 |
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| 11 | GG Train | 4:37 |
|
| 12 | Girl Of My Dreams | 4:08 |
|
Credits »
Steven Berkowitz - A&R
Michael Cuscuna - Reissue Producer
Teo Macero - Producer
Teo Macero - Original Recording Producer
Mark Wilder - Engineer
Mark Wilder - Remixing
Mark Wilder - Remastering
Mark Wilder - Digital Remixing
Don Hunstein - Photography
Seth Rothstein - Project Director
Seth Rothstein - Project Coordinator
Howard Fritzson - Art Direction
Howard Fritzson - Reissue Art Director
Howard Fritzon - Reissue Art Director
Randall Martin - Reissue Design
Bob Parent - Photography
Patti Matheny - A&R
Diane Dorr Dorynek - Liner Notes
Mike Cimicata - Packaging Manager
Rob Schwarz - Digital Remixing
Rob Schwarz - Remastering
Rob Schwarz - Remixing
Rene Arsenault - Production Assistant
Herb Snitzer - Photography
Brian Priestley - Liner Notes
Fred Plaut - Engineer
Ray Moore - Engineer
Horace Parlan - ?
Charles Mingus - Main Performer
Booker Ervin - ?
Jimmy Knepper - ?
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