Charles Mingus - Three or Four Shades of Blues (1977/2013)

In spite of the electric guitars, which don't really fit that well, the title track is one of the more successful Charles Mingus efforts at extended composition. The list of section titles for the work is a valuable document in itself; it includes the "Super Bebop Blues (Check Bird Out)" with George Coleman and the dudes who are advancing group improvisation, while USA press ignores them. And still does. Not his best work, but not without merit.

Tracks:

01. Better Git Hit in Your Soul (Mingus) - 4:40
02. Goodbye, Pork Pie Hat (Mingus) - 7:13
03. Noddin Ya Head Blues (Mingus) - 10:35
04. Three or Four Shades of Blues (Mingus) - 12:12
05. Nobody Knows (Mingus) - 10:11

Personnel:

Charles Mingus - bass, vocals, arranger
Jack Walrath - trumpet
Ricky Ford - tenor saxophone
George Coleman - alto saxophone, tenor saxophone (#1-4)
Sonny Fortune - alto saxophone (#5)
Bob Neloms, Jimmy Rowles (#4) - piano
Philip Catherine (#1-3,5), Larry Coryell (#1-4), John Scofield (#4,5) - guitar
Ron Carter (#5), George Mraz (#1-3) - bass
Dannie Richmond - drums
Paul Jeffrey - arranger

Recorded in New York on March 9-29, 1977.