Pre-Bird

by Charles Mingus

Overview

This pair of 1960 studio sessions represents some of Charles Mingus' best arrangements. Leading the smaller of two groups, he interpolates "Exactly Like You" into a driving version of "Take the 'A' Train" and adds a soulful blues, "Prayer for Passive Resistance," both of which feature great solos by tenor saxophonists Booker Ervin, Yusef Lateef, and Joe Farrell. A much larger ensemble is utilized on three tracks, including the advanced bop "Mingus Fingus No. 2" and "Bemoanable Lady," which features a rather strangely conservative alto sax solo by Eric Dolphy. Less successful are Lorraine Curson's vocals on the dissonant "Eclipse" and pulsating "Weird Nightmare." But this reissue, re-released previously under the title Mingus Revisited, has received a superb 24-bit remastering and also includes a number of photos from the sessions. ~ Ken Dryden

Product Details

Release Date:	09/29/2023
Label:	Verve
UPC:	0602455092984

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Charles Mingus   Primary Artist,Bass
Joe Farrell   Guest Artist,Sax (Tenor)
Paul Bley   Guest Artist,Piano
Slide Hampton   Guest Artist,Trombone
Yusef Lateef   Guest Artist,Flute,Sax (Tenor)
Max Roach   Guest Artist,Percussion
Eric Dolphy   Guest Artist,Flute,Sax (Alto),Clarinet (Bass)
Roland Hanna   Guest Artist,Piano
Clark Terry   Guest Artist,Trumpet
Charles McCracken   Cello
Ted Curson   Trumpet
Bill Barron   Sax (Tenor)
Booker Ervin   Sax (Tenor)
Eddie Bert   Trombone
Charles "Majeed" Greenlee   Trombone
John LaPorta   Sax (Alto)
Jimmy Knepper   Trombone
Marcus Belgrave   Trumpet
Gunther Schuller   Conductor
Dannie Richmond   Drums
Danny Bank   Sax (Baritone)
Hobart Dotson   Trumpet
Richard Gene Williams   Trumpet
Don Butterfield   Tuba
Sticks Evans   Drums
Robert DiDomenica   Flute
Harry Schulman   Oboe
Lorraine Cusson   Vocals
George Scott   Drums

Technical Credits

Charles Mingus   Composer
Bob Russell   Composer
Irving Mills   Composer
Duke Ellington   Composer
Billy Strayhorn   Composer
Henry Nemo   Composer
Jimmy McHugh   Composer
Dorothy Fields   Composer
Lionel Hampton   Composer
John Redmond   Composer