Mingus Ah Um

by Charles Mingus

Overview

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 exuberance 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 executives, can be heard on Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus). The underrated "Boogie Stop Shuffle" is bursting 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. ~ Steve Huey

Product Details

Release Date:	02/16/1999
Label:	Legacy
UPC:	0074646551226

Tracks

1. Better Git It in Your Soul
2. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
3. Boogie Stop Shuffle
4. Self-Portrait in Three Colors
5. Open Letter to Duke
6. Bird Calls
7. Fables of Faubus
8. Pussy Cat Dues
9. Jelly Roll
10. Pedal Point Blues
11. GG Train
12. Girl of My Dreams

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Charles Mingus   Primary Artist,Bass,Piano
Dannie Richmond   Guest Artist,Drums
Booker Ervin   Guest Artist,Saxophone,Sax (Tenor)
Horace Parlan   Guest Artist,Piano
"Captain" John Handy   Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor),Clarinet
Willie Dennis   Trombone
Shafi Hadi   Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor)
John Handy   Clarinet,Saxophone,Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor)
Jimmy Knepper   Trombone

Technical Credits

Ray Moore   Engineer
Seth Rothstein   Project Director,Project Coordinator
Patti Matheny   A&R
Rene Arsenault   Production Assistant
Bob Parent   Photography
Howard Fritzson   Art Direction,Reissue Art Director
Howard Fritzon   Reissue Art Director
Brian Priestley   Liner Notes
Diane Dorr Dorynek   Liner Notes
Herb Snitzer   Photography
Randall Martin   Reissue Design
Rob Schwarz   Remixing,Remastering,Digital Remixing
Don Hunstein   Photography
Mike Cimicata   Packaging Manager
Charles Mingus   Composer
Teo Macero   Producer,Original Recording Producer
Steven Berkowitz   A&R
Fred Plaut   Engineer
Mark Wilder   Engineer,Remixing,Remastering,Digital Remixing
Sunny Clapp   Composer
Michael Cuscuna   Reissue Producer