"The Mingus Big Band, which has celebrated the works of the late Charles Mingus for many years, now compiles all of their BEST recordings into one HUGE CD. By huge I don't mean size, I'm talking about the music. This has got to be one of the best jazz recordings I have ever heard. All the soloists are burnin' right thru to the end and the charts are played in the traditional Mingus style. PLEASE, if you really are intent on spending money today, buy this CD. For my money, jazz doesn't really get much better than this."
Get this album
M. S Thaler | villanova, pa, usa | 07/26/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you can listen to "Eat That Chicken" and not burst out laughing you have a problem. This whole album is about joy, and at its best jazz can convey that sense of spontaneous joy better than any other art form. This is truly joyful music. You can hear it in the improvisations from start to finish - pay close attention to the opening phrase from the soprano sax in the opening "Haitian Fight Song." Now listen to it again - it leaps into unexpected places in the span of several seconds and just lifts you up with it and makes you feel great. Is this the world's deepest music? Probably not, but who cares - buy it, listen to it, and remember why you started listening to jazz in the first place"
The "Ah Hum" memorial
thierry meyer | Jerusalem, Israel | 08/28/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"On of the happiest moment of music. Emotionally, poetically and technically perfect. In concert, this gang of "Meshigene" is devoting to the soul and the spirit of the great Charles. Mingus bless them !!"
SMOKIN'
F. Wenger | los angeles, ca United States | 11/06/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Mingus Big Band, formed by aficionando's of the late Mingus and his work, is simply burnin' on this recording. The tunes are superbly played even while the musicians go crazy in the background. This recording brings together the best work of the Mingus Big Band (whom I recently heard LIVE at the Monterey Jazz Festival...they were just as good then as they are on the recording) and it offers a welcome departure from the formal structure of jazz that we have come to regard as the norm. This is free jazz and these guys play it up amazingly well. A must have for any fan of Mingus or any music aficionado in general. Pick this CD up NOW!!"
One of the best jazz albums you can buy
Sean R. Glover | USA | 12/19/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am a serious jazz musician and jazz fan. I have listened to many jazz albums, good and bad. This is one of my favorite all time albums. The solos on this track are amazing and are some of the best solos I have ever heard. The arranging on this album is top class. This is probably also the greatest tribute I have ever heard for any musician.
More in Depth:
1) Haitian Fight Song:
It starts off with a nice bass intro, and then goes into a good groove. This is followed by various parts of the band echoing a nicely written melody back and forth. Once the band reaches its peak of sound, we go into a soprano sax solo, band feature, trumpet solo (by Randy Brecker, for those of you who are his fans) and piano solo. Then It goes back to the bassist playing by himself. The band takes it out with the fabulous melody.
2) Gunslinging Birds
Ultimate Mingus Chaos. This tune is fast, and not for the faint of heart (or ears). The band starts it off with dark lines. The trumpets play some nice high parts. We then hear one of the most bizarre, but also one of the greatest jazz solos ever played by a trombonist. This is followed by a nice alto sax solo. The band then trades the melody with their drummer, who plays a solo backed by the pianst. The band finishes it out with the melody.
3) Eat That Chicken
I don't like listening to Latin Music unless it makes me want to do a lot of listening and dancing. This song does both. After a nice band intro, we hear some silly but lovable lyrics sung by the band with some yelling/talking in the background. This background/yelling continues throughout the song. It does not interfere with the music, but gives it some more spice. Very nice trombone and piano solos. We then hear an orchestra feature that consists of distinct melodies from each section that layer each other (saxophone first, then trombone, then trumpet). The band takes it out with those lyrics. If this song doesn't make you want to dance or eat chicken pie, something's wrong with you.
4) Self-Portrait in Three Colors
A very nice sololess ballad that was arrangment by Charles Mingus himself. A break from the chaos, and a break before the chaos to come.
5) Moanin'
Not to be confused with the "Moanin" performed by Art Blakey. This tune features Ronnie Cuber on Baritone Saxophone, who doesn't just sound good, he sounds damn good. He starts the melody for the band, and the band precedes to follow with diffrent melodies overlapping the theme. The dynamics increase and soon instead of different melodies we hear random improv from the band. The band then plays another melody that leads into Ronnie Cuber's Bari Sax solo. This is one of the best solos I have heard from any musician. Ronnie Cuber is perhaps one of the most underrated jazz musicians around. We then go into a nice trumpet solo and trombone solo (with plunger). We then go back to Ronnie's fabulous Bari Sax melody, and the band finishes the song out.
6) Boogie Stop Shuffle
A very nice live recording of a very nice arrangement of a very nice song. We first hear a mysterious intro from the rhythm section. Afterwords, the bassist plays the theme, which is then repeated by the band. The band plays the theme and then goes into another melody that is extremely hip. Afterwords we hear a trumpet solo, alto sax solo, piano solo and drum solo. They are all good solos but the piano solo is my personal favorite. The band finishes it off with the main theme and countermelody.
7) Nostalgia in Times Square
A good track, but probably my least favorite on the album. Ronnie Cuber does a narration about going to New York and playing with Charles Mingus. His narration his backed by the band playing various melodies before playing the melody. The band continues the main theme, and then we hear a nice trumpet solo(from Randy Brecker, again). Ronnie Cuber takes another one of his great bari solos. Then we hear good solos from the pianst and bassist. The band finishes it off with the main theme.
8) Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
Perhaps one of the greatest jazz ballads ever written, and a wonderful arrangement. It starts off with a free interpretation of the melody by Seamus Blake on Tenor, backed by Boris Kozlov on Bass. The Band then plays the melody before Seamus takes a solo. Seamus Blake's playing is extremely sexy, just the right sound for this tune. He probably played this tune over and over again when he was learning how to play jazz. At least that's what it sounds like. The bassist, Boris Kozlov, takes a very nice bass solo. The band plays an interlude before Seamus solos some more. The band then plays the main theme. The last parts of the song consist of Seamus playing the melody once again (He could play it all day. I could listen to him play it all day, I think.) and then soloing over a surprise bossa groove. A very unique way to end the song, but done nicely.
9) Fables of Faubus
This song is an aquired favorite of mine. Steve Slagle's arrangement of it is genius. We hear the band play the melody with lots of yelling in the background. What's special about this arrangment is that the bridge is played in 12/8 afro-cuban, and then played double-time. Steve Slagle takes an Alto Saxophone solo. His solo on this tune is one of my favorite jazz solos of all time. I am actually working on transcribing it right now, and I look forward to having it done. Phil Harper takes a beautiful solo on trumpet, and then takes a cadenza where he has lots of fun hitting his high range of notes, and the band has fun yelling and wooping as they listen. The Band finishes it off with the main theme.
10) Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting
This is meant to be an Outro to the album, since we hear less then a minute of the tune. The part that we hear is fun to listen to, and a good end to this album.
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1