Jim Dvorak, Eric Mingus - This Isn't Sex (1999)

Tracklist

01. I Can't Wait for Brooklyn
02. Blood on the Streets
03. Brick Exposed
04. This Isn't Sex
05. Blue and White Lights
06. The Phone Went Dead
07. Baba O'riley
08. Sex as a Weapon
09. It Isn't Good Poetry Til You Mention Sex
10. I Broke Down
11. Feel Good Factor
12. Yuppie Status Symbol
13. Butchie
14. I Think of You
15. Chemical Attitude Adjustment

The mix of poetry and jazz has a checkered career, and after the 1950s, most of the efforts have been mediocre at best. This duo between trumpeter Jim Dvorak and wordsmith and bassist Eric Mingus brings the concept to the late 1990s with a compelling and inspiring performance that works on several levels. While there are whiffs of hip-hop and rap, this is not in any sense a commercial release. Instead, there is measure after measure of powerful trumpet (often pushing the edges) and some powerful and effective spoken word. This Mingus is a poet for the times, a conscience for a generation immersed in material values. He is also a fine bassist, and the two musicians create some entertaining jazz. Mingus' gruff voice contains elements of Jon Hendricks and Ken Nordine. The recording is a prime example of two plus two equals five -- surprises abound and preconceived notions shatter.

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