Track Listing
1. Better Get Hit in Yo' 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 - (bonus track)
11. GG Train - (bonus track)
12. Girl of My Dreams - (bonus track)
| Details | | Contributing Artists: | Booker Ervin, Dannie Richmond, Horace Parlan | | Distributor: | Sony Music Distribution ( | | Recording Type: | Studio | | Recording Mode: | Stereo | | SPAR Code: | n/a |
Album Notes
This remastered edition of MINGUS AH UM features six of the original tracks in unedited form and three bonus tracks.
Personnel: Charles Mingus (piano, bass); John Handy (alto & tenor saxophones, clarinet); Shafi Hadi (alto & tenor saxophones); Booker Ervin (tenor saxophone); Jimmy Knepper, Willie Dennis (trombone); Horace Parlan (piano); Dannie Richmond (drums).
Producer: Teo Macero.
Reissue producer: Michael Cuscuna.
Recorded at 30th Street Studio, New York, New York on May 5 & 12, 1959. Includes liner notes by Diane Dorr-Dorynek and Brian Priestley.
Digitally remastered using 20-bit technology by Mark Wilder and Rob Schwarz (Sony Music Studios, New York, New York).
This is a Super Audio CD playable only on Super Audio CD players.
This remastered edition of MINGUS AH UM features six of the original tracks in unedited form and three bonus tracks.
Personnel: Charles Mingus (piano, bass); John Handy (alto & tenor saxophones, clarinet); Shafi Hadi (alto & tenor saxophones); Booker Ervin (tenor saxophone); Jimmy Knepper, Willie Dennis (trombone); Horace Parlan (piano); Dannie Richmond (drums).
Producer: Teo Macero.
Reissue producer: Michael Cuscuna.
Recorded at 30th Street Studio, New York, New York on May 5 & 12, 1959. Includes liner notes by Diane Dorr-Dorynek and Brian Priestley.
This is a Super Audio CD playable only on Super Audio CD players.
Personnel: Charles Mingus (piano); John Handy (clarinet, saxophone, alto saxophone); John "Captain John" Handy (clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Booker Ervin (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Shafi Hadi (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Jimmy Knepper, Willie Dennis (trombone); Horace Parlan (piano); Dannie Richmond (drums).
Audio Remasterers: Rob Schwarz; Mark Wilder.
Audio Remixers: Rob Schwarz; Mark Wilder.
Liner Note Authors: Diane Dorr Dorynek; Brian Priestley.
Recording information: 30th Street Studio, New York, NY (05/05/1959/05/12/1959).
Photographers: Don Hunstein; Herb Snitzer; Bob Parent.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Horace Parlan; Jimmy Knepper; Booker Ervin.
One of the five essential Mingus albums to own, and even if you are not a jazz fan this is still worthy of being in any comprehensive collection. The opening track, "Better Git It In Your Soul," rushes along at a furious pace and then there is a wonderful change of tempo into an a cappella and handclap pause. It rolls on, of course, but the nature of this track reflects the nature of Mingus who never failed to experiment (even though sometimes he failed). The personnel comprises John Handy III, Shafi Hadi and Booker Ervin (saxophones), Horace Parlan Jr (piano), Willie Dennis and James Knepper (trombones) and Charles Richmond (drums). Mingus whoops, shouts and holds it all together and then turns the pace majestically on numbers such as "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat.
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 Hit in Yo' Soul," taken in a hard-charging 6/8 and punctuated by joyous gospel shouts. "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" is a slow, graceful ...
Editorial Reviews
4.5 stars out of 5 -- MINGUS AH UM combined the ferocity, elegance and sheer brilliance of Mingus' pen and bandleading.
Down Beat
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