Charles Mingus has a fascinating way of offering music that is grounded in tradition while remaining startlingly original. The freshness of a piece like Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus, has the effect of rendering much of what passes for jazz as tedious. The band is small for Mingus, and includes Eric Dolphy on alto saxophone and bass clarinet, Ted Curson on trumpet, and Dannie Richmond on drums. It would be one of Dolphy and Curson‘s last recording dates with the artist, and they seem determined to go all out for it. The leader’s bass line kicks off “Folk Forms No. 1,” followed by Dolphy outlining the melody, and then joined by Curson.
A simple riff develops into a lively New Orleans funeral march that’s developed for 12 minutes. “Original Faubus Fables” is serious intent a political attack on segregation governor Faubus but Mingus and Richmond‘s singing is difficult to listen to with a straight face. Still, this doesn’t distract from the wonderful music.
Personnel: Eric Dolphy-Alto Saxaphone & Bass Clarinet / Ted Curson-Trumpet / Dannie Richmond-Drums / Charles Mingus-Piano.
Tracklisting:
Side A: 1.Folk Forms 2.No.1 3.Orginal Faubus Fables
Side B: 1.What Love 2.All The Things You Could Be By Now If Sigmind Fraud’s Wife Was Your Mother
Re-Mastered by: Graeme Pressed at Duram Exchange from the orginal analogue master tapes.
Recorded: October 20th 1960 at Nola Penthouse Studios, NYC U.S.A
Recording Engineer: Bob D’Orleans
Supervision: Nat Hentoff
