Charles Mingus is my second favorite jazz player, surpassed only by Thelonious Monk. It was the frenetic style of records like “Moanin” and “Orange Is The Color of Her Hair and Blue Silk” (my favorite Mingus record) that drew me over initially. But on records like ‘Memories of You’, he shows he’s capable of great depths of sublimity. It’s on the East Coastin (1958) album.
And then you find out He plays it again on the Piano in his “Mingus Plays the Piano” album. This from a man who’s whole raison d’etre is as a Bassist, and a bandleader. One of the greatest composers in Jazz, along with Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk. True American genius..Musical genius
East Coasting (1958)
Personnel
Charles Mingus – bass
Clarence Shaw – trumpet
Jimmy Knepper – trombone
Shafi Hadi – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
Bill Evans – piano
Charles Mingus – bass
Clarence Shaw – trumpet
Jimmy Knepper – trombone
Shafi Hadi – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
Bill Evans – piano
Dannie Richmond – drums
The finest things 