Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus

Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus is a 1963 (see 1963 in music) album by jazz composer and bassist Charles Mingus.

Contents

1 Historical Context 2 Freedom 3 Track listing 4 Personnel

Historical Context

Many of the tracks on this album had been recorded or have since been rerecorded, some under different titles, on other albums. For example

• "Theme for Lester Young" - "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" on Mingus Ah Um
• "II B.S." - "Haitian Fight Song" on Plus Max Roach and The Clown
• "Freedom" - "Freedom" on Epitaph
• "Better Get Hit in Your Soul" - "Better Git It in Your Soul" on Mingus Ah Um
• "Hora Decubitus" - "E's Flat, Ah's Flat Too" on Blues & Roots

Freedom

The spoken word poem in "Freedom" was written by Charles Mingus.

The lyrics, "This mule ain't from Moscow", might be a reference to a Moscow Mule, a drink made of vodka and ginger beer popular in the 1950's.

Mingus did a number of other songs with spoken poetry

• "Scenes in the City"
• "The Chill of Death"
• "The Clown"
• "Weary Blues" (read by Langston Hughes).

Several other pieces have lyrics

• "Fables of Faubus"
• "Oh Lord, Don't Let Them Drop That Atomic Bomb on Me"

Track listing

1. "II B.S." - 4:46
2. "I X Love" - 7:38
3. "Celia" - 6:12
4. "Mood Indigo" - 4:43
5. "Better Get Hit in Yo' Soul" - 6:28
6. "Theme for Lester Young" - 5:50
7. "Hora Decubitus" - 4:41
8. "Freedom" - 5:10

Personnel

Tracks #1 and 4-8, recorded in New York on September 20, 1963:

• Eddie Preston - Trumpet
• Richard Williams - Trumpet
• Britt Woodman - Trombone
• Don Butterfield - Tuba
• Jerome Richardson - Soprano, baritone saxes, flute
• Dick Hafer - Tenor sax, clarinet, flute
• Booker Ervin - Tenor sax
• Eric Dolphy - Alto sax, flute
• Jaki Byard - Piano
• Charlie Mingus - Bass, (narration, #8)

Tracks #2 and 3, recorded in New York on January 20, 1963:

• Rolf Ericson - Trumpet
• Richard Williams - Trumpet
• Quentin Jackson - Trombone
• Don Butterfield - Tuba
• Jerome Richardson - Soprano, baritone saxes, flute
• Dick Hafer - Tenor sax, flute, oboe
• Charles Mariano - Alto sax
• Jaki Byard - Piano
• Jay Berliner - Guitar
• Charles Mingus - Bass, piano
• Dannie Richmond - Drums

• Bob Thiele - Producer
• Michael Cuscuna - Reissue Producer
• Bob Simpson - Engineer
• Erick Labson - Remastering

See also: Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus, 1963, 1963 in music, Bassist, Booker Ervin, Charles Mingus, Charlie Mingus, Epitaph, Eric Dolphy, Jaki Byard