Charles Mingus - Charles Mingus With Orchestra (1971/2018) FLAC

This is an obscure Charles Mingus session recorded in Japan in 1971, and the second version Denon has released of the same session. The bassist and composer fronted pianist Toshiyuki Miyama & His New Herd Orchestra. Here, however, Miyama, who only played a bit of piano (he was conducting the rest of the time), was supplanted by Mingus' own pianist and arranger, Jaki Byard. Other players included the leader's tenor saxophonist Bobby Jones and trumpeter Eddie Preston. The program consists of three Mingus originals, "The Man Who Never Sleeps," "O.P.," and "Portrait" (the first release with the same title featured three erroneously titled selections and an alternate take). This was Mingus gigging, pure and simple. The music is great but not overly inspiring, as the bassist was about to enter into his last great and controversial period of composing for large groups, but had yet to begin. That said, collectors will want to own this for the sheer excellence of the musicianship and terrific arrangements.