CHARLES MINGUS - Mingus At Carnegie Hall (Deluxe Edition)
Atlantic 603497844326 (2CDs/3LPs)
Charles Mingus, bass; Don Pullen, piano; George Adams, (tenor saxophone); Jon Faddis, (trumpet); Hamiet Bluiett, (baritone saxophone); Dannie Richmond, (drums)
on Perdido & C Jam Blues are: all the above plus, guest artists: Charles MacPherson (alto saxophone); John Handy (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Rahsaan Roland Kirk, (tenor saxophone, stritch)
It is a strange re-issue. The original issue was two pieces of non-Mingus music. Now we have the original two pieces plus 4 tracks of superb, original Mingus. Recorded on 19th January 1974, ‘Mingus At Carnegie Hall’ was released with just ‘C Jam Blues’ and ‘Perdido’ from the concert. The original concert in January of 74’ included 2 hours of performances. Personnel on unreleased pieces are: Charles Mingus, bass; Don Pullen, piano; George Adams, (tenor saxophone); Jon Faddis, (trumpet); Hamiet Bluiett, (baritone saxophone); Dannie Richmond, (drums) amd personnel on Perdido & C Jam Blues are: all the above plus, guest artists: Charles MacPherson (alto saxophone); John Handy (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Rahsaan Roland Kirk, (tenor saxophone, stritch).
The quality of the recording is spectacular! You doubt me? Listen to the visceral ‘Fables of Faubus’. If you follow Mingus closely you will have become used to substandard, barely acceptable recordings. This recording is sharply defined with all its musical threads glistening. You can savour the edgy timbre of George Adams, Hamiet Bluiett brings a deeper dimension, Don Pullen parades his own brand of avantgarde and, above it all, the confident trumpet of John Faddis flying freely.
The new section of the recording, over seventy minutes, has been hidden away for nearly fifty years. It appears that we were fobbed off with a jam session based on themes that had little to do with Mingus. Now, we have over 72 minutes of unreleased material with the original concert running order correctly sequenced.. The deluxe 3LP/ 2CD set features images taken by original photographer Gal Costa and new notes by Mosaic’s Michael Cuscuna..
The pieces from the Mingus book are: ‘Peggy’s Blue Skylight’, ‘Celia’, ‘Fables of Faubus’ and ‘Big Alice’. They are all played with intensity, joy and controlled abandon.
Dannie Richmond excels at whatever tempo Mingus chooses. Richmond, because he spent so much time with Mingus, is underrated. His ability to change the tempo and take everyone with him is comparable with the way that Tony Williams managed Miles Davis.
George Adams injects life and furious energy into everything that he plays. The years he played with Richmond and Pullen created some of the most exciting small group jazz of that period. He maintains control of the horn when he reaches for the extremes. Jon Faddis has a technique that is straight out of Gillespie. He keeps the melodic burnished tone no matter how high he plays.
‘Big Alice’ was always an important piece in the Adams/Pullen group’s library. Here it translates well into the larger group. Pullen ensures that the rocking rhythm is maintained. His own solo shows that he is the master of the pianistic climax as he ripples notes up and down the piano without losing momentum. Pitching the barrel chested sound of Bluiett’s baritone against the brawny sound of the Adams’ tenor gives the ensemble both depth, ruggedness and majesty. Unique sounds.
I can’t think of any reason why you should avoid this new release. The music is assured, carrying the imprint of a jazz innovator filtered through the playing of master improvisers.
Reviewed by Jack Kenny
Atlantic 603497844326 (2CDs/3LPs)
Charles Mingus, bass; Don Pullen, piano; George Adams, (tenor saxophone); Jon Faddis, (trumpet); Hamiet Bluiett, (baritone saxophone); Dannie Richmond, (drums)
on Perdido & C Jam Blues are: all the above plus, guest artists: Charles MacPherson (alto saxophone); John Handy (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Rahsaan Roland Kirk, (tenor saxophone, stritch)
It is a strange re-issue. The original issue was two pieces of non-Mingus music. Now we have the original two pieces plus 4 tracks of superb, original Mingus. Recorded on 19th January 1974, ‘Mingus At Carnegie Hall’ was released with just ‘C Jam Blues’ and ‘Perdido’ from the concert. The original concert in January of 74’ included 2 hours of performances. Personnel on unreleased pieces are: Charles Mingus, bass; Don Pullen, piano; George Adams, (tenor saxophone); Jon Faddis, (trumpet); Hamiet Bluiett, (baritone saxophone); Dannie Richmond, (drums) amd personnel on Perdido & C Jam Blues are: all the above plus, guest artists: Charles MacPherson (alto saxophone); John Handy (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Rahsaan Roland Kirk, (tenor saxophone, stritch).
The quality of the recording is spectacular! You doubt me? Listen to the visceral ‘Fables of Faubus’. If you follow Mingus closely you will have become used to substandard, barely acceptable recordings. This recording is sharply defined with all its musical threads glistening. You can savour the edgy timbre of George Adams, Hamiet Bluiett brings a deeper dimension, Don Pullen parades his own brand of avantgarde and, above it all, the confident trumpet of John Faddis flying freely.
The new section of the recording, over seventy minutes, has been hidden away for nearly fifty years. It appears that we were fobbed off with a jam session based on themes that had little to do with Mingus. Now, we have over 72 minutes of unreleased material with the original concert running order correctly sequenced.. The deluxe 3LP/ 2CD set features images taken by original photographer Gal Costa and new notes by Mosaic’s Michael Cuscuna..
The pieces from the Mingus book are: ‘Peggy’s Blue Skylight’, ‘Celia’, ‘Fables of Faubus’ and ‘Big Alice’. They are all played with intensity, joy and controlled abandon.
Dannie Richmond excels at whatever tempo Mingus chooses. Richmond, because he spent so much time with Mingus, is underrated. His ability to change the tempo and take everyone with him is comparable with the way that Tony Williams managed Miles Davis.
George Adams injects life and furious energy into everything that he plays. The years he played with Richmond and Pullen created some of the most exciting small group jazz of that period. He maintains control of the horn when he reaches for the extremes. Jon Faddis has a technique that is straight out of Gillespie. He keeps the melodic burnished tone no matter how high he plays.
‘Big Alice’ was always an important piece in the Adams/Pullen group’s library. Here it translates well into the larger group. Pullen ensures that the rocking rhythm is maintained. His own solo shows that he is the master of the pianistic climax as he ripples notes up and down the piano without losing momentum. Pitching the barrel chested sound of Bluiett’s baritone against the brawny sound of the Adams’ tenor gives the ensemble both depth, ruggedness and majesty. Unique sounds.
I can’t think of any reason why you should avoid this new release. The music is assured, carrying the imprint of a jazz innovator filtered through the playing of master improvisers.
Reviewed by Jack Kenny
