Barbara Dennerlein - Tribute To Charlie

Styles: Jazz
Year: 1986
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:05
Size: 117,4 MB
Art: Front

(2:47)  1. A Tribute To Charlie P.
(5:02)  2. Donna Lee
(4:39)  3. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
(3:47)  4. New Times
(3:07)  5. Ornithology
(3:57)  6. Billie's Bounce
(3:18)  7. Yardbird Suite
(4:54)  8. Solo For Winds
(5:10)  9. Four Years For T.
(4:16) 10. Scrapple From The Apple
(4:35) 11. Dewey Square
(3:33) 12. Last Friends

Her CDs have won numerous awards, including the German Record Critics Award. Her CD "Take Off" (Verve/Universal) even reached number 1 in the jazz charts and was the best-selling German jazz album of the year. Barbara Dennerlein belongs to the small circle of German artists of international repute. On her recordings and in her concerts, she stands out as a member of a new generation of jazz musicians, and is regarded by her peers and her audiences alike as one of the leading representatives of her instrument, the legendary Hammond B3.

It is an awe-inspiring experience to watch Barbara live on stage. As the most important and most successful German jazz export, she is familiar with large international festival stages and intimate clubs alike. A list of venues where she has wowed audiences is as varied as it is long: the "Blue Note" and the "Sweet Basil" in New York, "Ronnie Scott's Club" and the "Jazz Café" in London and the "Blue Note" in Tokyo; Philadelphia, Berkley, San Jose, San Diego; the Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, and Victoria jazz festivals; European festivals in The Hague, the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, the Pori Jazz Festival in Finland, the Molde Jazz in Norway, the Arhus Jazz Festival in Denmark, the Maastricht-Kortrijk Festival in Belgium, the Vitoria Festival de Jazz in Spain, and German festivals in Berlin, Frankfurt, Leverkusen, Nuremberg, Vilshofen, Burghausen, Freiburg, Hamburg, Hanover and many others. Besides her nearly endless live performances, Barbara has made numerous appearances on both domestic and international radio and TV.

Both with her own "Bebab" group and solo, Barbara is equally celebrated by critics and audiences alike on both sides of the Atlantic. The name "Bebab" is a play on "Bebop" and "Barbara" and indicates something unique for which there is no established term, no pigeonhole. She knows the value of tradition but is also at home in modern jazz, in the here and now. She is one of the few musicians who can make the connection between different styles and audiences, building bridges between the musical past and present. She is just as familiar with the grooves of youth culture as with the listening experiences of a generation that grew up with the Hammond organ boom of the fifties. Swing, bebop, blues, soul, latin and funk for Barbara there are no rigid boundaries, only fluid transitions. Audiences are captivated by her talent, her absolute mastery of the instrument, her taste, and not least, her warm personality. The B3, it would seem, is a seamless extension of herself. She understands better than anyone how to exploit her instrument to the full, creating a sound and a musical style that is unmistakably "Barbara Dennerlein". Her brilliant technique has breathed new life into the venerable Hammond organ, an instrument long neglected in modern jazz. She can rightfully claim to have paved the way for the organ's current renaissance in jazz. Born in Munich in 1964, she fell in love with one sound at an early age. While others were practicing "Für Elise" or strumming "All You Need Is Love" on the guitar, Barbara was fascinated by the sound of the Hammond organ. More Bio ~ http://www.barbaradennerlein.com/en/cds/index.php

Personnel: Bass – Jean Warland, Thomas Stabenow; Composed By – Barbara Dennerlein (tracks: A1, A4, B2, B3), Charles Mingus (tracks: A3), Charlie Parker (tracks: A2, A5, A6, B1, B4, B5), Heinz von Hermann (tracks: B6); Conductor – Peter Herbolzheimer; Drums – Bruno Castellucci; Guitar – Peter Tiehuis; Organ – Barbara Dennerlein; Saxophone – Bubi Aderhold, Heinz Von Hermann, James Towsey, John Ruocco, Karl Drewo; Trombone – Bart Van Lier, Eric Van Lier, Jiggs Whigham, Joe Gallardo, Sepp Romeis; Trumpet – Ack Van Rooyen, Allan Botschinsky, Andreas Haderer, Derek Watkins, Gregg Bowen, Jan Oosthof

Tribute To Charlie

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Charles Mingus - Incarnations

Styles: Post Bop, Jazz
Year: 2023
Time: 42:49
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 98,3 MB
Art: Front

( 8:27) 1. Bugs (Take 3)
(11:50) 2. R&R (Take 1)
( 4:50) 3. All The Things You Are (All)
( 6:58) 4. Reincarnation of a Love Bird (2nd Version Take 1)
(10:41) 5. Body And Soul (Take 6)

A collection of recordings culled from Charles Mingus' 1960 sessions on the Candid label, 2024's Incarnations is a swinging yet still heady album that finds the bassist bridging the mainstream jazz of the '40s and '50s with the avant-garde post-bop and third-stream explorations he would pursue just a few years later.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/incarnations-mw0004165948

Personnel: Bass – Charles Mingus; Alto Saxophone – Charles McPherson, Eric Dolphy; Bass Clarinet – Eric Dolphy; Drums – Dannie Richmond, Jo Jones; Piano – Nino Bunick, Paul Bley, Tommy Flanagan; Tenor Saxophone – Booker Ervin ; Trombone – Britt Woodman, Jimmy Knepper; Trumpet – Lonnie Hillyer, Roy Eldridge, Ted Curson

Incarnations

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Charles Mingus - Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:12
Size: 92,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:45)  1. II B.S.
(7:36)  2. I X Love
(6:10)  3. Celia
(4:44)  4. Mood Indigo
(6:26)  5. Better Get Hit in Yo' Soul
(5:49)  6. Theme for Lester Young
(4:39)  7. Hora Decubitus

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.
By Steve Huey https://www.allmusic.com/album/mingus-mingus-mingus-mingus-mingus-mw0000653088

Personnel:  Tracks #1 and 4–8, recorded on September 20, 1963: Eddie Preston – Trumpet;  Richard Williams – Trumpet; Britt Woodman – Trombone; Don Butterfield – Tuba;  Jerome Richardson – Soprano, baritone saxes, flute;  Dick Hafer – Tenor sax, clarinet, flute;  Booker Ervin – Tenor sax;  Eric Dolphy – Alto sax, flute, bass clarinet;  Jaki Byard – Piano;  Charles Mingus – Bass, (narration, #8);  Walter Perkins – Drums;  Bob Hammer – Arranger and orchestrator

Tracks #2 and 3, recorded on January 20, 1963: Rolf Ericson – Trumpet;  Richard Williams – Trumpet;  Quentin Jackson – Trombone;  Don Butterfield – Tuba;  Jerome Richardson – Soprano, baritone saxes, flute;  Dick Hafer – Tenor sax, flute, oboe;  Charlie Mariano – Alto sax;  Jaki Byard – Piano;  Jay Berliner – Guitar;  Charles Mingus – Bass, piano;  Dannie Richmond – Drums;  Bob Hammer – Arranger and orchestrator

Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus

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Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:32
Size: 168,5 MB
Art: Front

(7:22) 1. Better Git It in Your Soul
(5:44) 2. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
(5:02) 3. Boogie Stop Shuffle
(3:10) 4. Self-Portrait in Three Colors
(5:51) 5. Open Letter to Duke
(6:17) 6. Bird Calls
(8:13) 7. Fables of Faubus
(9:14) 8. Pussy Cat Dues
(6:17) 9. Jelly Roll
(6:30) 10. Pedal Point Blues
(4:39) 11. GG Train
(4:07) 12. Girl of My Dreams

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 accessibility 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 It in Your 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' most revered influences: "Open Letter to Duke" is inspired by Duke Ellington 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. By Steve Huey
https://www.allmusic.com/album/mingus-ah-um-mw0000188531

Personnel: Charles Mingus – bass, piano (with Parlan on track 10); John Handy – alto sax (1, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12), clarinet (8), tenor sax (2); Booker Ervin – tenor sax; Shafi Hadi – tenor sax (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10), alto sax (1, 5, 6, 9, 12); Willie Dennis – trombone (3, 4, 5, 12); Jimmy Knepper – trombone (1, 7, 8, 9, 10); Horace Parlan – piano; Dannie Richmond – drums

Mingus Ah Um

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Charles Mingus, John La Porta - Jazzical Moods

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:41
Size: 113.7 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1954/1995
Art: Front

[ 8:05] 1. What Is This Thing Called Love
[ 3:15] 2. Stormy Weather
[10:08] 3. Minor Intrusion
[ 4:12] 4. Abstractions
[ 6:36] 5. Thrice Upon A Theme
[ 8:46] 6. Four Hands
[ 8:34] 7. The Spur Of The Moment Echonitus

Bass, Piano, Leader, Liner Notes – Charles Mingus; Cello – Jackson Wiley (tracks: 1 to 5); Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – John LaPorta; Drums – Clem DeRosa; Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Teo Macero; Trumpet – Thad Jones (tracks: 1 to 5). Recorded in New York City; December 1954.

Originally recorded for Period Records in 1954, this fairly obscure early Charles Mingus session is a collaboration with composer John LaPorta, who is heard on clarinet and alto saxophone. It's a fascinating effort that shows Mingus' awareness of both modern European classical composition and cool jazz. The set includes a mix of Mingus and LaPorta originals, plus freshly arranged standards like "What Is This Thing Called Love" and "Stormy Weather." Also on hand are the great trumpeter Thad Jones and saxophonist/producer Teo Macero. The album features Mingus' debut on piano. ~AMG

Jazzical Moods

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Charles Mingus - The Lost Album From Ronnie Scott's

Styles: Bop, Post Bop
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 145:32
Size: 334,2 MB
Art: Front

( 1:01) 1. Introduction
(30:44) 2. Orange Was The Color Of Her Dress (Then Silk Blues)
(19:52) 3. Noddin' Ya Head Blues
(29:57) 4. Mind-Reader's Convention In Milano (Aka Number 29)
( 0:44) 5. Ko Ko (Theme)
(35:00) 6. Fables Of Faubus
( 7:35) 7. Pops (When The Saints Go Marching In)
(18:33) 8. The Man Who Never Sleeps
( 2:02) 9. Air Mail Special

After the emotional and economic bankruptcies of the late 1960s that nearly took him out of the picture entirely, 1972 broke well for Charles Mingus. He had re-signed with Columbia and delivered the revered Let My Children Hear Music. (He would, a year later, be part of the great Clive Davis jazz purge of 1973 which included Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, and, some argue Ornette Coleman.) Grants and commissions were coming in and his music, in all its bold, gnarly, swooning vehemence, was being performed far and wide. His irascible, erotic, and essential autobiography, Beneath the Underdog, had finally been published. More and more, Sue Mingus was becoming the edifying force in his life, a beacon for his health, his creativity, his business. Most importantly, as first evidenced by Charles Mingus And Friends In Concert (Columbia, 1972) it was all coming together for him onstage.

Even though his multiple demons (all the usual human foibles but magnified by genius) were never too far from the forefront of his garrulous self, history, while it often casts shade on even our most beloved icons, has been kind to Mingus. He's recognized in the same breath as Duke Ellington, Charles Ives, and Claude Debussy. Now, just in time for a loud and rowdy celebration of his 2022 centennial (April 22) and Record Store Day (April 23) another very sweet slice of history is heard gloriously on The Lost Album from Ronnie Scott's.

Why it takes fifty years for music of this muscle and magnitude to be released is just one of the great eternal questions, but here it is so let's rejoice. Fully authorized by Jazz Workshop, Inc., and given the full Resonance Records grand treatment: interviews with Charles McPherson, Eddie Gomez, Christian McBride; anecdotes from Mary Scott, Sue Mingus, and Fran Lebowitz, as well as archival and production liner notes. But it's the music that spins the head, spikes the pulse, and whips the carpet out from under one. It's what Mingus would want.

So it's the two nights in August at the end of a successful European run and the players are in flux but wasn't flux at the crux of Mingus' most inspired moments? Nineteen year old trumpeter Jon Faddis was not only trying to hone his young brilliance, he was trying to do so through the Mingus maze. Little known pianist John Foster succeeds Jaki Byard and drummer Roy Brooks has taken over for Mingus stalwart Dannie Richmond, who left to soak in some short lived pop rock with Mark Almond Band. It begins as most great jazz moments do. Immediately. Ronnie Scott intros the sextet. Mingus rumbles a happy birthday, thanks the audience for letting their claps be recorded, and it's off to the races with the unapologetic zest and swagger of "Orange Was the Color of Her Dress, Then Silk Blues," a full half hour of stunning, multi-part alchemy. Foster proves he's up to the task, keeping up with the turns and tides precipitated by alto saxophonist Charles McPherson and his tenor counterpart, Bobby Jones.

Variation upon variation. Creation on the fly. "Ysabel's Table Dance" (one of the many glories from Tijuana Moods (RCA, 1962) knits in and out of the general creative mayhem. There's some church, some New Orleans, some breakdowns and fanfares. Faddis and Foster, with Jones on soprano sax, hold court, hand off. Mingus guides and goads. It's an unstoppable momentum that moves into a burly bass solo intro "Noddin' Ya Head Blues" a slow, low down blues that brings Foster to the vocal forefront telling his woman "I need it every morning, I need it every night" as the horns slink and slur. So expansive is the setting that Brooks gets a musical saw solo, as well he should.

Spoiler alert: From here The Lost Album from Ronnie Scott's just gets better and better. Cascading for another riotous half hour, the recently minted Mingus twister "Mind-Readers' Convention in Milan" puts one and all to the test and just can't be described with any real justice. It needs to be heard. It needs to be experienced.

Though by its very nature any jazz moment can be considered one of kind, the barely contained madcappery that ensues in this truly one-for-the-ages performance of the seismic "Fables of Faubus" is the stuff of legend. It noodles, it sprawls, it quarrels. It reaches for the London skies and returns to the stage with ether to burn. Mingus roils as Faddis blows beyond his years, the saxophones cut and weave, Foster veers from stride to barroom to bop and Brooks drives headlong into the hijinks. In a word, remarkable. Ditto The Lost Album from Ronnie Scott's.~Mike Jurkovic https://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-lost-album-from-ronnie-scotts-charles-mingus-resonance-records__7280

Personnel: Charles Mingus: bass, acoustic; Charles McPherson: saxophone, alto; Bobby Jones: saxophone, tenor; Jon Faddis: trumpet; John Foster: piano; Roy Brooks: drums.

The Lost Album From Ronnie Scott's

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Charles Mingus - Riding Where Sunshine

Styles: Bop, Post-Bop
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 79:54
Size: 183,4 MB
Art: Front

( 5:57) 1. Lady Bird
(13:11) 2. I’ll Remember April
( 6:48) 3. All The Things You Are In C Sharp
( 7:24) 4. Salt Peanuts
( 5:35) 5. A Foggy Day (Live Take)
( 3:53) 6. Bass-ically Speaking (Alternate Take 2)
( 5:37) 7. Drums (Live Take)
( 9:10) 8. Hot House
( 8:37) 9. Percussion Discussion (Live Take)
( 7:42) 10. Perdido
( 5:58) 11. Serenade In Blue

One of the most important figures in twentieth century American music, Charles Mingus was a virtuoso bass player, accomplished pianist, bandleader and composer. Born on a military base in Nogales, Arizona in 1922 and raised in Watts, California, his earliest musical influences came from the church choir and group singing and from "hearing Duke Ellington over the radio when [he] was eight years old." He studied double bass and composition in a formal way (five years with H. Rheinshagen, principal bassist of the New York Philharmonic, and compositional techniques with the legendary Lloyd Reese) while absorbing vernacular music from the great jazz masters, first-hand. His early professional experience, in the 40's, found him touring with bands like Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory and Lionel Hampton.

Eventually he settled in New York where he played and recorded with the leading musicians of the 1950's Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Bud Powell, Art Tatum and Duke Ellington himself. One of the few bassists to do so, Mingus quickly developed as a leader of musicians. He was also an accomplished pianist who could have made a career playing that instrument. By the mid-50's he had formed his own publishing and recording companies to protect and document his growing repertoire of original music. He also founded the "Jazz Workshop," a group which enabled young composers to have their new works performed in concert and on recordings.

Mingus soon found himself at the forefront of the avant-garde. His recordings bear witness to the extraordinarily creative body of work that followed. They include: Pithecanthropus Erectus, The Clown, Tijuana Moods, Mingus Dynasty, Mingus Ah Um, The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, Cumbia and Jazz Fusion, Let My Children Hear Music. He recorded over a hundred albums and wrote over three hundred scores. Although he wrote his first concert piece, "Half-Mast Inhibition," when he was seventeen years old, it was not recorded until twenty years later by a 22-piece orchestra with Gunther Schuller conducting. It was the presentation of "Revelations" which combined jazz and classical idioms, at the 1955 Brandeis Festival of the Creative Arts, that established him as one of the foremost jazz composers of his day.

In 1971 Mingus was awarded the Slee Chair of Music and spent a semester teaching composition at the State University of New York at Buffalo. In the same year his autobiography, Beneath the Underdog, was published by Knopf. In 1972 it appeared in a Bantam paperback and was reissued after his death, in 1980, by Viking/Penguin and again by Pantheon Books, in 1991. In 1972 he also re-signed with Columbia Records. His music was performed frequently by ballet companies, and Alvin Ailey choreographed an hour program called "The Mingus Dances" during a 1972 collaboration with the Robert Joffrey Ballet Company

He toured extensively throughout Europe, Japan, Canada, South America and the United States until the end of 1977 when he was diagnosed as having a rare nerve disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. He was confined to a wheelchair, and although he was no longer able to write music on paper or compose at the piano, his last works were sung into a tape recorder. From the 1960's until his death in 1979 at age 56, Mingus remained in the forefront of American music. When asked to comment on his accomplishments, Mingus said that his abilities as a bassist were the result of hard work but that his talent for composition came from God.

Mingus received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, The Smithsonian Institute, and the Guggenheim Foundation (two grants). He also received an honorary degree from Brandeis and an award from Yale University. At a memorial following Mingus' death, Steve Schlesinger of the Guggenheim Foundation commented that Mingus was one of the few artists who received two grants and added: "I look forward to the day when we can transcend labels like jazz and acknowledge Charles Mingus as the major American composer that he is." The New Yorker wrote: "For sheer melodic and rhythmic and structural originality, his compositions may equal anything written in western music in the twentieth century." He died in Mexico on January 5, 1979, and his wife, Sue Graham Mingus, scattered his ashes in the Ganges River in India. Both New York City and Washington, D.C. honored him posthumously with a "Charles Mingus Day.

After his death, the National Endowment for the Arts provided grants for a Mingus foundation created by Sue Mingus called "Let My Children Hear Music" which catalogued all of Mingus' works. The microfilms of these works were then given to the Music Division of the New York Public Library where they are currently available for study and scholarship - a first for jazz. Sue Mingus has founded three working repertory bands called the Mingus Dynasty, Mingus Orchestra, and the Mingus Big Band, which continue to perform his music. Biographies of Charles Mingus include Mingus by Brian Priestley, Mingus/Mingus by Janet Coleman and Al Young, Myself When I Am Real by Gene Santoro, and Tonight at Noon, a memoir by Sue Mingus.

Mingus' masterwork, "Epitaph," a composition which is more than 4000 measures long and which requires two hours to perform, was discovered during the cataloguing process. With the help of a grant from the Ford Foundation, the score and instrumental parts were copied, and the piece itself was premiered by a 30-piece orchestra, conducted by Gunther Schuller, in a concert produced by Sue Mingus at Alice Tully Hall on June 3, 1989, ten years after Mingus' death. The New Yorker wrote that "Epitaph" represents the first advance in jazz composition since Duke Ellington's "Black, Brown, and Beige," which was written in 1943. The New York Times said it ranked with the "most memorable jazz events of the decade." Convinced that it would never be performed in his lifetime, Mingus called his work "Epitaph," declaring that he wrote it "for my tombstone.”
"The Library of Congress purchased the Charles Mingus Collection, a major acquisition, in 1993; this included autographed manuscripts, photographs, literary manuscripts, correspondence, and tape recordings of interviews, broadcasts, recording sessions, and Mingus composing at the piano. Sue Mingus has published a number of educational books through Hal Leonard Publishing, including Charles Mingus: More Than a Fake Book, Charles Mingus: More Than a Play-Along, Charles Mingus: Easy Piano Solos, many big band charts including the Simply Mingus set of big band music charts and a Mingus guitar book. https://www.charlesmingus.com/mingusbio

Riding Where Sunshine

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Thad Jones - The Fabulous Thad Jones

Styles: Trumpet Jazz 
Year: 1958
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:36
Size: 146,3 MB
Art: Front

(8:47)  1. Get Out Of Town
(7:33)  2. One More
(4:56)  3. Bitty Ditty
(5:16)  4. More Of The Same
(5:15)  5. Elusive
(2:50)  6. Sombre Intrusion
(6:08)  7. I Can't Get Started
(3:51)  8. I'll Remember April
(3:33)  9. You Don't Know What Love Is
(3:45) 10. Chazzanova
(7:33) 11. Get Out Of Town (Alternate Take)
(4:03) 12. One More (Alternate Take)

Trumpeter Thad Jones made his debut as a leader for Charles Mingus' Debut label during 1954-55, music that has been reissued as a single CD in the OJC series and as part of a huge 12-CD Mingus Debut box set. The 12 performances (which include two alternate takes) really put the focus on Jones' accessible yet unpredictable style. Half of the music showcases Jones in a quartet with pianist John Dennis, bassist Mingus and drummer Max Roach. while the other six numbers are more in a Count Basie groove with Frank Wess on tenor and flute, pianist Hank Jones, Mingus and drummer Kenny Clarke. 

The originals tend to be tricky, and even such standards as "I'll Remember April," "You Don't Know What Love Is" and "Get Out of Town" have their surprising moments. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-fabulous-thad-jones-mw0000262510

Personnel includes: Thad Jones (trumpet); Frank Wess (tenor saxophone, flute); John Dennis, Hank Jones (piano); Charles Mingus (bass); Max Roach, Kenny Clarke (drums).

The Fabulous Thad Jones

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Charles Mingus - Mingus Three (feat. Hampton Hawes & Danny Richmond)

Styles: Contemporary Jazz
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:22
Size: 88,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:16) 1. Yesterdays
(5:31) 2. Back Home Blues
(6:31) 3. I Can't Get Started
(3:55) 4. Hamp's New Blues
(4:40) 5. Summertime - 1997 Remaster
(6:54) 6. Dizzy Moods
(6:33) 7. Laura

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. Drummer Danny Richmond is not so much the peacemaker or even mediator, and he is the one with the most common sense who actually pulls this triad into a simpatico unit, cooling the embers with his steady, willful-in-its-own-right playing. As complex as the music of Mingus tends to be, it's nice to hear what he does in a more simplified area.

His "Back Home Blues" is so basic as his bass leads out, while the Mingus chart "Dizzy Moods" is deeper within an easier swing, allowing darker colors to fully but slowly blossom. Richmond favors the tambourine on "Dizzy Moods" and the hip "A Night in Tunisia"-styled take of "Summertime," while a faster "Hamp's New Blues" bops along effortlessly, chided by the drummer's accents. Hawes shines in his gilded, rearranged concept of "Yesterdays," intentionally messing up the changes for the first few bars before settling in, while slowing the Vernon Duke evergreen "I Can't Get Started" (always a personal staple of the Mingus book) to a crawl. The most intriguing selection comes at the end, as "Laura" sounds derived from "Tea for Two," with the hardy upright of Mingus sallying forth about this imaginary woman made real through this poignant song. Some six years later, Mingus, Duke Ellington, and Max Roach would record the controversial trio effort Money Jungle, so in many ways this album is a prelude to that all-star combination, both one-shots and definitely sidebars to the careers of all of these brilliant jazzmen.~ Michael G.Nastos https://www.allmusic.com/album/mingus-three-mw0000309628

Personnel: Bass – Charles Mingus; Drums – Danny Richmond;Piano – Hampton Hawes

Mingus Three (feat. Hampton Hawes & Danny Richmond)

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Charles Mingus, Eric Dolphy - Cornell 1964

Styles: Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute Jazz, Post Bop

Year: 1964
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 134:22
Size: 308,3 MB
Art: Front

( 0:16)  1. Opening
( 4:26)  2. ATFW You
( 4:23)  3. Sophisticated Lady
(29:41)  4. Fables Of Faubus
(15:05) 5. Orange Was The Color Of Her Dress, The Blue Silk
(17:26)  6. Take The A Train
(31:23)  7. Meditations
(15:33)  8. So Long Eric
( 6:06)  9. When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
( 9:58) 10. Jitterbug Waltz

The hype factor was cranked up considerably in 2005 for the unearthed recording of two jazz legends: John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk's At Carnegie Hall (Blue Note). Things have cooled down a tad since that momentous release but just as exciting and equally important is Cornell 1964 featuring the Charles Mingus Sextet with Eric Dolphy.  Mingus, the powerful enigmatic bassist, band-leader and composer, was as controversial as he was dynamic. Dolphy, an absolutely brilliant musician (alto sax, bass clarinet, and flute), whose short lived musical career (he died a few months after this concert in 1964) still leaves a vivid mark in jazz today. The chance to hear them together is a treat for longtime admirers and newcomers alike. But this is more than just a meeting of two giants because we also get a chance to witness Mingus' illustrious quintet which included lesser known yet stunning musicians: Jaki Byard (piano), Johnny Coles (trumpet), Clifford Jordan (tenor saxophone), and Dannie Richmond (drums). Mingus always ran a tight ship, tolerating nothing less than excellence. With this band, the musicians not only meet his criteria but also deliver some stellar performances. The two-CD recording covers everything from Mingus' epic "Fables of Faubus, (written as a direct protest against Civil Rights injustices in 1957) to a jubilant rendition of "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling as the band engages in some light hearted fun. There is an air that the vibe was stress free (in contrast to some of Mingus' engagements) and that they were clearly enjoying themselves and the receptive audience. There are many highlights from everyone: Byard's exhaustive range on "ATFW You included bebop, ragtime, classical and more. Mingus' gregarious fretwork injected with humor and an unflinching presence on "Orange Was the Color of Her Dress, Then Blue Silk as Coles' sweet muted trumpet harmonizes with Jordan's warm tenor and Dolphy's throaty bass clarinet. Each voice glows against the blues/swing melody. They "Take The A Train to new destinations of swing as Mingus and Richmond thrill the audience with boisterous solos. Dolphy played jazz flute like no one else, as heard on "Jitterbug Waltz, brings the recording to a satisfying conclusion. There are many bright moments on this resurrected historical document. The shadows of these players still looms today and this concert is a testament of their greatness that will hopefully endure for years to come. ~ Mark F.Turner https://www.allaboutjazz.com/cornell-1964-charles-mingus-blue-note-records-review-by-mark-f-turner.php

Personnel: Charles Mingus: bass; Eric Dolphy: alto saxophone, flute, bass clarinet; Johnny Coles: trumpet; Clifford Jordan: tenor saxophone; Jaki Byard: piano; Dannie Richmond: drums.

Cornell 1964

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Charles Mingus Quintet - Chazz

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:26
Size: 97,9 MB
Art: Front

(6:56)  1. Jump Monk
(6:04)  2. Serenade In Blue
(8:44)  3. Percussion Discussion
(6:34)  4. Work Song
(7:06)  5. Septemberley
(7:00)  6. All the Things You Are In C Sharp

The Jazz Workshop of 1955 is in superb form, caught in performance at the Caf Bohemia in New York. Max Roach only appears for a "Percussion Discussion" with Mingus, but the forgotten Willie Jones is no slouch either. A typically adventurous set of tunes includes two montages. ("Septemberly" combines "September in the Rain" and "Tenderly", while "All the Things You Can C-Sharp" is a blend of "All the Things You Are," Rachmaninoff's "Prelude in C-Sharp" and "Clair de Lune.") It's a very spirited date, ranking with his best work in the period. 

A further disc, Charles Mingus Quintet Plus Max Roach (Fantasy 86009), derives from the same date; these were combined as Prestige P-24010. And the boxed set of the Complete Debut Recordings (Debut 12-CDC-4402-2) includes an additional hour of previously unissued material. ~ Stuart Kremsky https://www.allmusic.com/album/chazz-mw0000901355

Personnel:  Bass – Charlie Mingus; Drums – Max Roach, Willie Jones; Piano – Mal Waldron; Tenor Saxophone – George Barrow; Trombone – Eddie Bert

Chazz

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Miles Davis - Birdland 1951

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:23
Size: 154.3 MB
Styles: Bop, Trumpet jazz
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[ 6:11] 1. Move
[ 7:31] 2. Half Nelson
[ 7:11] 3. Down
[ 5:51] 4. Out Of The Blue
[ 7:40] 5. Half Nelson
[ 6:42] 6. Tempus Fugit
[12:08] 7. Move
[ 8:36] 8. The Squirrel
[ 5:29] 9. Lady Bird

Bass – Charles Mingus, Tommy Potter; Drums – Art Blakey; Piano – Billy Taylor, Kenny Drew; Tenor Saxophone – Big Nick Nicholas, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Sonny Rollins; Trombone – J.J. Johnson; Trumpet – Miles Davis.

These nine tracks, taken from radio broadcasts from the legendary Birdland in 1951, represent a particularly fruitful period in Miles Davis' development as a bandleader. There are three different broadcasts included here; two comprising six cuts in total were from June and September and have been issued in various forms on bootlegs over the decades. Four cuts, however, taken from a broadcast on February 17, have never been available in any form and it is these as well the marginally better fidelity of the entire set that makes this worth owning for Miles freaks -- and only Miles freaks. The sextet on the February and June dates included J.J. Johnson, Sonny Rollins, Art Blakey, Tommy Potter, and Kenny Drew. In September, Charles Mingus, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Billy Taylor, and Big Nick Nicholas joined Davis and Blakey. The fidelity here is listed on the sleeve as "primitive." That's a nice way to say it sucks bad. These are better than Charlie Parker's Dean Benedetti recordings, but not by much. Soundwise, the best that can be said is that one can hear all of the instruments. The performances, however, particularly as delineated in the three different versions of the cut "Move," are stellar. They are inspired, furious, and cutting. Rollins outdoes himself in the June performance of the cut, and the latter band transforms it entirely. For the record, it is the only duplicate selection. Also, the live version of "Tempus Fugit," with its knotty head and punched-up rhythm, is revelatory in the manner of arrangement for those days and points a solid direction for the immediate future -- check the tempos and structure of the solo breaks on the September session for evidence. While this set is exclusively for those Miles fans who have to have absolutely everything, it is nonetheless worth it for those who have the bootlegs because of the heightened fidelity and the new session. ~Thom Jurek

Birdland 1951

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Charles Mingus - Tonight At Noon

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1961
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:15
Size: 89,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:00)  1. Tonight At Noon
(4:50)  2. Invisible Lady
(7:55)  3. 'Old' Blues For Walt's Torin
(9:42)  4. Peggy's Blue Skylight
(9:46)  5. Passions Of A Woman Loved

A valuable reissue for Mingus fans, Tonight at Noon compiles five tunes originally recorded for two of the great bassist's most important album's, 1957's The Clown and 1961's Oh Yeah. Though the two sessions cover somewhat different stylistic ground, they blend together seamlessly and amount to much more than a haphazard assemblage of dusty outtakes. The earlier session is the more restrained of the two, with Mingus and a typically responsive quintet (trombonist Jimmy Knepper, alto saxophonist Shafi Hadi, pianist Wade Legge and drummer Dannie Richmond) expertly weaving a path between the extremes of European impressionism (on the haunting "Passions of a Woman Loved") and hard bop (on the fast-paced title tune). The 1961 date is a more freewheeling journey into the blues and gospel roots of jazz via Duke Ellington, with Mingus switching to piano (an instrument on which he was more than proficient) and handing the bass duties over to Doug Watkins. The hard-swinging group also includes Mingus stalwarts Knepper and Richmond, along with the dynamic saxophone duo of Booker Ervin and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Though most of the compositions on Tonight at Noon are not well known (with the exception of "Peggy's Blue Skylight" from the 1961 session) and several make their only appearances in the Mingus catalog here, there's certainly nothing second rate about these tunes. Along with the time limitations of the LP era, one gets the impression that, if anything, they were left off the original albums because they were even more provocative than the selected cuts. This is vital, exciting music.~ Joel Roberts https://www.allaboutjazz.com/tonight-at-noon-charles-mingus-water-music-review-by-joel-roberts.php

Personnel: Charles Mingus, Bass, Piano, Vocals; Shafi Hadi, Alto Saxophone; Doug Watkins, Bass; Dannie Richmond, Drums; Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Saxophones; Wade Legge, Piano; Booker Ervin, Tenor Saxophone; Jimmy Knepper, Trombone.

Tonight At Noon

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Various - Atlantic Jazz: Best Of The '50s

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:19
Size: 156.4 MB
Styles: Bop, Soul-jazz, R&B, Vocal jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[ 4:36] 1. The Modern Jazz Quartet - Django
[ 2:48] 2. Chris Connor - All About Ronnie
[ 7:56] 3. Shorty Rogers - Martians Go Home
[ 6:45] 4. Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Evidence
[ 4:41] 5. Lavern Baker - Back Water Blues
[ 5:46] 6. John Coltrane - Cousin Mary
[ 3:32] 7. Jimmy Giuffre - The Train And The River
[ 7:16] 8. Big Joe Turner - Wee Baby Blues
[10:33] 9. Charles Mingus - Pithecanthropus Erectus
[ 5:21] 10. David Newman - Fathead
[ 5:21] 11. Lennie Tristano - You Go To My Head
[ 3:39] 12. Ray Charles - Come Rain Or Come Shine

Although there were plenty of early-'50s examples of Atlantic's commitment to jazz, the Ertegun brothers allegedly didn't get serious about establishing a full jazz line until 1955 when the twelve-inch LP was starting to take hold. Hence the half-decade span of this Rhino sampler that helped launch its repackaging of the Atlantic jazz caatalogue in 1993. In the space of one disc, Rhino touches upon most of the leading Atlantic jazz folk of the time, beginning with Shorty Rogers' inimitable "Martians Go Home" and running through to Chris Connor's live "All About Ronnie." Along the way, we hear samples of the MJQ (though there is no solo Milt Jackson), Art Blakey, LaVern Baker, John Coltrane ("Cousin Mary"), Jimmy Giuffre, Joe Turner, Charles Mingus, David "Fathead" Newman, Lennie Tristano, and some string-laden Ray Charles ("Come Rain Or Come Shine"). If quibble we must, there is nothing of the Dixieland resurgence that Atlantic was cultivating then, and most glaring of all, there is no Ornette Coleman, whose first two groundbreaking Atlantic albums were made in 1959. Otherwise casual jazz shoppers will find much to stimulate their appetites in this collection, better described as "best of the late-'50s." ~Richard S. Ginnell

Atlantic Jazz: Best Of The '50s

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Charles Mingus - The Clown

Styles: Jazz, Post-Bop 
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:52
Size: 93,9 MB
Art: Front

(12:03)  1. Haitian Fight Song
( 7:58)  2. Blue Cee
( 8:34)  3. Reincarnation Of A Lovebird
(12:15)  4. The Clown

The Clown was Charles Mingus' second masterpiece in a row, upping the already intense emotional commitment of Pithecanthropus Erectus and burning with righteous anger and frustration. With Pithecanthropus, Mingus displayed a gift for airtight, focused arrangements that nonetheless allowed his players great freedom to add to the established mood of each piece. The Clown refines and heightens that gift; instead of just writing heads that provide launch points for solos, Mingus tries to evoke something specific with every piece, and even his most impressionistic forays have a strong storytelling quality. In fact, The Clown's title cut makes that explicit with a story verbally improvised by Jean Shepherd (yes, the same Jean Shepherd responsible for A Christmas Story) from a predetermined narrative. There are obvious jazz parallels in the clown's descent into bitterness with every unresponsive, mean-spirited audience, but the track is even more interesting for the free improvisations led by trombonist Jimmy Knepper, as the group responds to Shepherd's story and paints an aural backdrop. It's evidence that Mingus' compositional palette was growing more determinedly modern, much like his increasing use of dissonance, sudden tempo changes, and multiple sections. The Clown introduced two of Mingus' finest compositions in the driving, determined "Haitian Fight Song" and the '40s-flavored "Reincarnation of a Lovebird," a peaceful but melancholy tribute to Charlie Parker; Mingus would return to both throughout his career. And, more than just composing and arranging, Mingus also begins to take more of the spotlight as a soloist; in particular, his unaccompanied sections on "Haitian Fight Song" make it one of his fieriest moments ever. Mingus may have matched the urgency of The Clown on later albums, but he never quite exceeded it. ~ Steve Huey http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-clown-mw0000199104

Personnel: Charles Mingus (bass); Jean Shepherd (spoken vocals); Shafi Hadi (alto & tenor saxophones); Jimmy Knepper (trombone); Wade Legge (piano); Dannie Richmond (drums).

The Clown

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Charles Mingus - Mingus Plays Piano

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:14
Size: 115.0 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1963/2012
Art: Front

[7:38] 1. Myself When I Am Real
[3:40] 2. I Can't Get Started
[4:31] 3. Body And Soul
[2:40] 4. Roland Kirk's Message
[4:34] 5. Memories Of You
[3:12] 6. She's Just Miss Popular Hybrid
[4:13] 7. Orange Was The Color Of Her Dress, Then Silk Blues
[3:38] 8. Meditations For Moses
[3:44] 9. Old Portrait
[3:43] 10. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
[8:34] 11. Compositional Theme Story, Medleys, Anthems And Folklore

This album is unique in Mingus' enormous catalog. As the title indicates, the famous bassist takes to the ivories solo to give life to his dazzling improvisational art. At first it seems odd to hear Mingus without one of his trademark interactive and exploratory ensembles. But the sensibility that he brings to this collection of piano pieces bears all the signs of the composer's genius.

In the first piece, "Myself When I Am Real," turbulence and aching beauty merge in Mingus' spontaneous unfolding of phrases. Such standards as "Body and Soul" and "Memories of You" are given personal, harmonically intriguing readings that blend in seamlessly with a Mingus original like "Old Portrait." In many ways, it is a treat to hear the artist working in this pared-down, quieter atmosphere, as it allows one to concentrate more intently upon the range and compositional brilliance of this incomparable figure. ~AllMusic

Mingus Plays Piano

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Charles Mingus - Mingus at the Bohemia

Styles: Bop, Post-Bop

Year: 1955

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 64:48

Size: 148,7 MB

Art: Front

( 6:53)  1. Jump Monk

( 6:02)  2. Serenade in Blue

( 8:38)  3. Percussion Discussion

( 6:29)  4. Work Song

( 7:06)  5. Septemberly

( 6:57)  6. All the Things You Are

(11:55)  7. Jump Monk

(10:44)  8. All The Things You Are

A live performance at the Club Bohemia in New York, this is the first Mingus recording to feature mostly his own compositions. Some are his future standards. Here are his first attempts at future techniques such as combining two songs into one. His bass playing really stands out. ~ Michael Katz http://www.allmusic.com/album/mingus-at-the-bohemia-mw0000320165

Personnel: Charles Mingus (bass); George Barrow (tenor saxophone); Eddie Bert (trombone); Mal Waldron (piano); Willie Jones, Max Roach (drums).

Mingus at the Bohemia

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Various - Timeless: Savoy 60th Anniversary (2-Disc Set)

Savoy Jazz marks its 60th anniversary with this double-disc compilation of the early pioneers of bebop. This classic collection features some of the first recordings by such bebop masters as Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis, and Stan Getz, among others, playing their classic repertoire of the '40s and '50s. These 32 compositions are also among those that helped to establish and solidify this newly introduced style of jazz in the hearts and souls of many swing and big-band followers around the globe, despite the early thumbs-down given by jazz purists of that decade. Titled Savoy 60th Anniversary: Timeless, the CDs feature state-of-the-art transfers from the actual acetate and tape masters created by these legendary artists at the original historic recording sessions. Listeners can now fully realize such great songs as "Parker's Mood," "Bohemia After Dark," and Little Jimmy Scott's first big record, "When Did You Leave Heaven?," in their finest quality available to date. A best buy for jazz history buffs. ~Paula Edelstein

Album: Timeless: Savoy 60th Anniversary (Disc 1)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 60:38

Size: 138.8 MB

Styles: Jazz/ZBlues/R&B/Vocal

Year: 2002/2010

[3:01] 1. Charlie Parker - Parker's Mood [original Take 3]

[3:04] 2. Dexter Gordon - Long Tall Dexter

[2:20] 3. Charlie Parker - Sipping At Bells [original Take 2]

[5:38] 4. Dizzy Gillespie - The Champ

[2:35] 5. Stan Getz - Don't Worry 'bout Me

[2:51] 6. The Be Bop Boys - Bebop In Pastel [take 3]

[2:17] 7. Stan Getz - Fat Girl

[3:16] 8. 8. Lennie Tristano - Master

[2:37] 9. Art Pepper - These Foolish Things

[3:53] 10. Kai Winding - Bernie's Tune

[6:17] 11. Charles Mingus - Tea For Two

[6:03] 12. Adderley Brothers - Bohemia After Dark

[7:46] 13. Donald Byrd - Star Eyes

[4:24] 14. Lee Morgan - P.S. I Love You

[4:30] 15. John Coltrane - B.J

Timeless: Savoy 60th Anniversary (Disc 1)

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Album: Timeless: Savoy 60th Anniversary (Disc 2)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 50:18

Size: 115.2 MB

Styles: Jazz/Blues/R&B/Vocal

Year: 2010

Art: Front

[3:14] 1. Lester Young - Jump Lester Jump

[3:14] 2. Charlie Parker - Now's The Time

[3:05] 3. Billy Eckstine - Oop Bop Sh'bam

[3:02] 4. Ben Webster - I Surrender, Dear

[2:58] 5. Illinois Jacquet - Illinois Goes To Chicago

[2:47] 6. Big Jay Mcneely - Deacon's Hop

[3:07] 7. Paul Hucklebuck Williams - The Hucklebuck

[2:57] 8. Hal Singer - Cornbread

[3:10] 9. George Shearing - Moon Over Miami

[2:29] 10. Erroll Garner - The Goodbye

[2:50] 11. Marian Mcpartland - Love Is Here To Stay

[2:54] 12. Milt Jackson - 'round Midnight

[3:15] 13. Eddie Jefferson - Body And Soul

[2:36] 14. Joe Williams - Every Day I Have The Blues

[2:54] 15. Gene Ammons - Trav'lin' Light

[3:15] 16. Little Jimmy Scott - When Did You Leave Heaven

[2:25] 17. Big Maybelle - Say It Isn't So

Timeless: Savoy 60th Anniversary (Disc 2)

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Hazel Scott - Relaxed Piano Moods

Styles: Piano Jazz

Year: 1955

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 41:12

Size: 96,9 MB

Art: Front

(3:51)  1. Like Someone In Love

(4:06)  2. Peace Of Mind

(4:47)  3. Lament

(4:00)  4. The Jeep Is Jumpin'

(4:30)  5. Git Up From There

(6:08)  6. A Foggy Day

(4:48)  7. Mountain Greenery

(4:00)  8. Git Up From There - Alternate

(4:57)  9. Lament - Alternate

Hazel Scott's impressive bop piano was just one facet of talents that extended to playing classical music on the concert stage, singing and acting on-stage and onscreen, and hosting her own radio and television shows. A child prodigy, Scott entered Juilliard at the age of eight and made extensive concert tours of Europe, Africa, and the Near East before recording this date for Debut Records in 1955. For the set, she is accompanied by Debut's founders bassist Charles Mingus and drummer Max Roach. Given her talent and training, it's no surprise that Scott has technique to burn. Her energetic presence and personality and easy authority at the piano are amply demonstrated on the up-tempo numbers "The Jeep Is Jumpin'," "A Foggy Day," and "Mountain Greenery," and on the smouldering mid-tempo of Scott's "Git up From Here." The two ballad tracks are not quite so distinctive, although Scott's attractive performance of "Like Someone in Love" is elegantly detailed and nuanced. The alternate takes of "Git up From Here" and "Lament" are tentative compared to the main takes. Mingus and Roach are generally heard in supporting roles which they perform to perfection but they also get in some nice four- and eight-bar vignettes here and there. This music is also part of the Mingus boxed set The Complete Debut Recordings. ~ Jim Todd  http://www.allmusic.com/album/relaxed-piano-moods-mw0000087888

Personnel: Hazel Scott (piano); Charles Mingus (bass); Max Roach (drums).

Relaxed Piano Moods

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George Shearing, Red Norvo - Midnight On Cloud 69

Styles: Piano And Vibraphone Jazz
Year: 1956
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:49
Size: 90,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:21)  1. Sorry Wrong Rumba
(2:50)  2. Cotton Top
(3:04)  3. Be Bop's Fables
(3:10)  4. Midnight On Cloud 69
(3:50)  5. Little White Lies
(4:11)  6. I'm Yours
(3:13)  7. Moon Over Miami
(2:44)  8. Cherokee
(3:11)  9. Life With Feather
(2:24) 10. Four Bars Short
(2:37) 11. Time And Tide
(4:08) 12. Night And Day

For a long stretch of time in the 1950s and early '60s, George Shearing had one of the most popular jazz combos on the planet so much so that, in the usual jazz tradition of distrusting popular success, he tended to be underappreciated. Shearing's main claim to fame was the invention of a unique quintet sound, derived from a combination of piano, vibraphone, electric guitar, bass, and drums. Within this context, Shearing would play in a style he called "locked hands," which he picked up and refined from Milt Buckner's early-'40s work with the Lionel Hampton band, as well as Glenn Miller's sax section and the King Cole Trio. Stating the melody on the piano with closely knit, harmonized block chords, with the vibes and guitar tripling the melody in unison, Shearing sold tons of records for MGM and Capitol in his heyday. The wild success of this urbane sound obscures Shearing's other great contribution during this time, for he was also a pioneer of exciting, small-combo Afro-Cuban jazz in the '50s. 

Indeed, Cal Tjader first caught the Latin jazz bug while playing with Shearing, and the English bandleader also employed such esteemed congueros as Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, and Armando Peraza. As a composer, Shearing was best known for the imperishable, uniquely constructed bop standard "Lullaby of Birdland," as well as "Conception" and "Consternation." His solo style, though all his own, reflected the influences of the great boogie-woogie pianists and classical players, as well as those of Fats Waller, Earl Hines, Teddy Wilson, Erroll Garner, Art Tatum, and Bud Powell and fellow pianists long admired his light, refined touch. He was also known to play accordion and sing in a modest voice on occasion.

Shearing, who was born blind, began playing the piano at the age of three, receiving some music training at the Linden Lodge School for the Blind in London as a teenager but picking up the jazz influence from Teddy Wilson and Fats Waller 78s. In the late '30s, he started playing professionally with the Ambrose dance band and made his first recordings in 1937 under the aegis of fellow Brit Leonard Feather. He became a star in Britain, performing for the BBC, playing a key role in the self-exiled Stéphane Grappelli's London-based groups of the early '40s, and winning seven consecutive Melody Maker polls before emigrating in New York City in 1947 at the prompting of Feather. Once there, Shearing quickly absorbed bebop into his bloodstream, replacing Garner in the Oscar Pettiford Trio and leading a quartet in tandem with Buddy DeFranco. In 1949, he formed the first and most famous of his quintets, which included Marjorie Hyams on vibes (thus striking an important blow for emerging female jazz instrumentalists), Chuck Wayne on guitar, John Levy on bass, and Denzil Best on drums. Recording briefly first for Discovery, then Savoy, Shearing settled into lucrative associations with MGM (1950-1955) and Capitol (1955-1969), the latter for which he made albums with Nancy Wilson, Peggy Lee, and Nat King Cole. 

He also made a lone album for Jazzland with the Montgomery Brothers (including Wes Montgomery) in 1961, and began playing concert dates with symphony orchestras. After leaving Capitol, Shearing began to phase out his by-then-predictable quintet, finally breaking it up in 1978. He started his own label, Sheba, which lasted for a few years into the early '70s and made some trio recordings for MPS later in the decade. In the '70s, his profile had been lowered considerably, but upon signing with Concord in 1979, Shearing found himself enjoying a renaissance in all kinds of situations. He made a number of acclaimed albums with Mel Tormé, raising the singer's profile in the process, and recorded with the likes of Ernestine Anderson, Jim Hall, Marian McPartland, Hank Jones, and classical French horn player Barry Tuckwell. He also recorded a number of solo piano albums where his full palette of influences came into play. He signed with Telarc in 1992 and from that point through the early 2000s continued to perform and record, most often appearing in a duo or trio setting. Shearing, who had remained largely inactive since 2004 after a fall in his New York City apartment, died of congestive heart failure at New York's Lenox Hill Hospital on February 14, 2011. He was 91. 

Bio ~ Richard S.Ginell  http://www.allmusic.com/artist/george-shearing-mn0000642664/biography

Personnel: George Shearing (piano); Marjorie Hyams, Red Norvo (vibraphone); Tal Farlow, Chuck Farlow (guitar); John Levy, Charles Mingus (bass); Denzil Best (drums).

Midnight On Cloud 69

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