Charles Mingus - Cumbia & Jazz Fusion (2011) [Hi-Res]

As Charles Mingus' career (and life) moved into its final phase, his recordings exclusively featured large (and often potentially unruly) ensembles. This CD, which contains two rather long performances originally recorded as soundtracks for films, is better than most of what followed. "c" has a large percussion section and quite a few woodwinds along with trumpeter Jack Walrath, tenor saxophonist Ricky Ford, and trombonist Jimmy Knepper while "Music for 'Todo Modo'" adds five horns to Mingus' quintet. The music is episodic but generally holds its own away from the film. -- Scott Yanow