Mercurial bassist and bandleader Charles Mingus was signed to Columbia Records for the briefest of time during 1959. His Columbia recordings, however, remain some of the most inspired, mood-jumping jazz in history. This three-CD collection fattens the original LPs, Mingus Ah Um and Mingus Dynasty, along with 10 tracks in their original, unedited form. The third CD includes six alternate takes from the sessions, one of them previously unissued altogether. These songs nail why Mingus is possibly the most relevant jazzer for the '90s generation. They're either foot-stomping in intensity or poignantly yearning with their lyrical tapestry of orchestral colors. Nowhere will you find better, more flowing jazz statements than the sad "Goodbye Porkpie Hat" or in the blasting "Boogie Stop Shuffle"
Personnel
CD1
John Handy - alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, clarinet
Booker Ervin - tenor saxophone
Shafi Hadi - alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
Jimmy Knepper - trombone
Willie Dennis - trombone
Horace Parlan - piano
Charles Mingus - bass
Dannie Richmond - drums
CD2
Richard Williams - trumpet
Don Ellis - trumpet
Jimmy Knepper - trombone
John Handy - alto saxophone
Booker Ervin - tenor saxophone
Benny Golson - tenor saxophone
Jerome Richardson - baritone saxophone
Teddy Charles - vibes
Roland Hanna - piano
Charles Mingus - bass
Dannie Richmond - drums
CD3
Richard Williams - trumpet
John Handy - alto saxophone
Booker Ervin - tenor saxophone
Benny Golson - tenor saxophone
Shafi Hadi - alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
Jerome Richardson - baritone saxophone
Jimmy Knepper - trombone
Teddy Charles - vibes
Horace Parlan - piano
Roland Hanna - piano
Charles Mingus - bass
Dannie Richmond - drums
CD1 - Mingus Ah Um:
1. Better Git It In Your Soul [7:23]
2. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat [5:44]
3. Boogie Stop Shuffle [5:02]
4. Self-Portrait In Three Colors [3:10]
5. Open Letter To Duke [5:51]
6. Bird Calls [6:17]
7. Fables Of Faubus [8:13]
8. Pussy Cat Dues [9:14]
9. Jelly Roll [6:17]
10. Pedal Point Blues [6:30]
11. GG Train** [4:39]
12. Girl Of My Dreams [4:08]
CD2 - Mingus Dynasty:
1. Slop [6:16]
2. Diane [7:32]
3. Song With Orange [6:50]
4. Gunslinging Bird [5:14]
5. Things Ain't What They Used To Be [7:36]
6. Far Wells, Mill Valley [6:14]
7. New Now Know How [4:13]
8. Mood Indigo [8:13]
9. Put Me In That Dungeon [2:53]
10. Strollin' [4:33]
CD3 - Alternate Takes:
1. Better Git It In Your Soul (Alternate) [8:32]
2. Bird Calls (Alternate) [4:54]
3. Jelly Roll (Alternate) [6:42]
4. Song With Orange (Alternate) [6:43]
5. Diane (Alternate) [7:32]
6. New Now Know How (Alternate) [4:19]
