Charles Mingus

This anthology collects a number of obscure 78s by Charles Mingus, many of which have not been reissued since they were originally released during the 1940s. Many of the vocal features are fairly traditional ballads, and Mingus was by no means an inventive lyricist, but it is the strong solos by the musicians within these tracks and the often rather progressive arrangements (even if their execution is not always perfect) that generally merit the most attention. Among the many musicians heard on this CD are Roy Porter, Art Pepper, Richard Wyands, and Red Callender. Andrew Homzy's thorough liner notes and the many period photographs included provide additional insight into the early career of Charles Mingus. Highly recommended.- by Ken Dryden, All Music Guide

PERSONNEL:

[1-4] CHARLES MINGUS SEXTET:

N.R. 'Nat' Bates - trumpet
Maxwell Davies, William Woodman - tenor sax
Robert Mosley - piano
Charles Mingus - bass
Roy Porter - drums
Oradell Mitchell - vocals on 1 and 3
Everett Pettis - vocals on 2

[5-8] CHARLES MINGUS SEXTETTE:

Karl George, John Plonsky - trumpet
Henry Coker - trombone
Willie Smith - alto sax
Lucky Thompson - tenor sax
Gene Porter - baritone sax, clarinet
Wilbert Baranco - piano
Buddy Harper - guitar
Charles Mingus - bass
Lee Young - drums
Claude Trenier - vocals on 5, 6 and 8

[9-13] BARON MINGUS AND HIS OCTET:

Karl George, John Anderson - trumpet
William Woodman - tenor sax, baritone sax
Buddy Collette - alto sax, clarinet
Britt Woodman - trombone
Lady Will Carr - piano
Louis Speigner - rhythm guitar
Charles Mingus - bass
Lee Young - drums
Claude Trenier - vocals on 9 and 10

[14-15] BARON MINGUS AND HIS RHYTHM:

Buddy Collette - alto sax, clarinet
Jimmy Bunn - piano
Charles Mingus - bass
Chuck Thompson - drums

[16-17] CHARLE "BARRON" MINGUS PRESENTS HIS SYMPHONIC AIRS:

John Coppola, Vernon Carlson, Allen Smith, Andy Peele - trumpet
Bob Olney - alto sax, clarinet, flute
Bud Hooven - alto sax
Morrie Stewart, Alex Megyesey, Don Smith - tenor sax
Herb Caro - baritone sax
Haig Eshow, Bob Lowry, Hawes Coleman - trombone
Richard Wyands - piano
Charles Mingus - bass
Cal Tjader - drums
Johnny Berger - percussion
Dante Perfumo - flute
Jean McGuire - cello
Herb Gayle - vocals on 17

[18-19] BARON MINGUS AND HIS RHYTHM:

Herb Caro - baritone sax
Buzz Wheeler - piano
Charles Mingus - bass
Warren Thompson - drums
Herb Gayle - vocals on 18

[20-21] BARON MINGUS AND HIS RHYTHM:

Tommy Alexander - trumpet
Herb Caro - tenor sax
Bob Lowry - trombone
Donn Trenner - piano
Charles Mingus - bass, scat vocals on 21
Johnny Berger - drums
Helen Carr - vocals on 20

[22-23] CHARLIE MINGUS & HIS 22 PIECE BEBOP BAND (Stan Kenton's Sidemen):

Buddy Childers, John Anderson, Hobart Dotson, Eddie Preston - trumpet
Eric Dolphy, Art Pepper - alto sax, flute, clarinet
Herb Caro - tenor sax, clarinet
Jewel Grant - alto sax, clarinet
Gene Porter - baritone sax, clarinet
Britt Woodman, Jimmy Knepper, Marty Smith - trombone
Russ Freeman - piano
Charles Mingus, Red Callender - bass
Roy Porter - drums
possibly Johnny Berger - percussion
unknown - guitar

[24]: CHARLES MINGUS - piano

DATE AND LOCATION

[1-4]: Fall of 1945, Los Angeles
[5-8]: end of January 1946, Los Angeles
]9-13]: April 20, 1946, Los Angeles
[14-15]: early November 1948, Los Angeles
[16-17]: mid-February 1949, San Francisco
[18-19]: February 1949, San Francisco
[20-21]: late February-early March 1949, Los Angeles
[22-23]: Spring 1949, Hollywood, California
[24]: February 10, 1949, Ralph Manza's home, San Francisco

TRACKS:

01. The Texas Hop
02. Baby, Take a Chance With Me
03. Lonesome Woman Blues
04. Swingin' An Echo
05. Ain't Jivin' Blues
06. Baby, Take a Chance With Me
07. Shuffle Bass Boogie
08. Weird Nightmare
09. Make Believe
10. Honey, Take a Chance With Me
11. Bedspread
12. This Subdues My Passion
13. Pipe Dream
14. Mingus Fingers
15. These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)
16. Story of Love
17. He's Gone
18. Pennies From Heaven
19. Lyon's Roar
20. Say It Isn't So
21. Boppin' In Boston
22. The Story of Love
23. Inspiration
24. He's Gone (Rehearsal Arrangement)

INCLUDES 96-PAGE BOOKLET