Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um (1959) [2022 DSD256]

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 exuber-
ance 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 execu-
tives, can be heard on Charles Mingus Presents Charles
Mingus). The underrated "Boogie Stop Shuffle" is burst-
ing 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.


Tracks:

Bass, Composed By – Charles Mingus
Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – John Handy
Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Shafi Hadi
Tenor Saxophone – Booker Ervin
Drums – Dannie Richmond
Piano – Horace Parlan

Personnel:

Tenor Saxophone – Sonny Rollins
Bass – Doug Watkins
Drums – Max Roach
Piano – Tommy Flanagan