Mingus Moves
Encyclopedia
Mingus Moves is a 1973 (see 1973 in music
) album by jazz
composer and bassist
Charles Mingus
.
. He hired three new musicians for the recording: Don Pullen
, piano; Ronald Hampton, trumpet; and George Adams
, tenor saxophone. In an auspicious development, Mingus's ex-drummer Dannie Richmond
, who had gained fame with his many years behind the bassist, rejoined the band on the first day of recording.
The album, although not generally regarded as one of Mingus's greatest, does feature three remarkable compositions: "Canon," " Opus 3," and "Opus 4." "Canon" is a theme, as the title suggests, that can be superimposed upon itself. The song has a spiritual character, a la Coltrane, and is played with a warm sound by Pullen and Adams. This tune was also released on Hal Willner's tribute CD: Weird Nightmare - Meditations on Mingus. "Opus 3" is based on the Mingus's 1957 composition "Pithecanthropus Erectus," in which certain sections are played without key or meter restrictions. "Opus 4" is a straight-ahead swinger that features Don Pullen playing a free solo part.
The other tunes include "Moves," a composition written and sung (along with Honi Gordon) by Doug Hammond
, Richmond's predecessor; "Wee," the bop standard, arranged by Sy Johnson
, who also worked with Mingus on Let My Children Hear Music (1971) and Mingus and Friends in Concert (1972); "Flowers," written by Adams; and "Newcomer" by Pullen, dedicated to his newborn daughter.
The CD released in 1993 contains the bonus tracks "Big Alice" and "The Call," which were recorded during the same sessions.
1973 in music
-January–April:*January 9 – Mick Jagger's request for a Japanese visa is rejected on account of a 1969 drug conviction, putting an abrupt end to The Rolling Stones' plans to perform in Japan during their forthcoming tour.*January 14...
) album by jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
composer and bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus Jr. was an American jazz musician, composer, bandleader, and civil rights activist.Mingus's compositions retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music while sometimes drawing on elements of Third stream, free jazz, and classical music...
.
The Music
Mingus Moves (Atlantic SD 1653) is one of the late works of jazz bassist, composer, and bandleader Charles MingusCharles Mingus
Charles Mingus Jr. was an American jazz musician, composer, bandleader, and civil rights activist.Mingus's compositions retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music while sometimes drawing on elements of Third stream, free jazz, and classical music...
. He hired three new musicians for the recording: Don Pullen
Don Pullen
Don Pullen was an American jazz pianist and organist. Pullen developed a strikingly individual style throughout his career. He composed masterworks ranging from blues to bebop and modern jazz...
, piano; Ronald Hampton, trumpet; and George Adams
George Adams (musician)
George Rufus Adams was an American jazz musician who played tenor saxophone, flute and bass clarinet. He is best known for his work with Charles Mingus, Gil Evans, Roy Haynes and in the quartet he co-led with pianist Don Pullen, featuring bassist Cameron Brown and drummer Dannie Richmond...
, tenor saxophone. In an auspicious development, Mingus's ex-drummer Dannie Richmond
Dannie Richmond
Dannie Richmond was an American drummer who was best known among jazz fans for his work with Charles Mingus, and among pop fans for his work with Joe Cocker, Elton John and Mark-Almond....
, who had gained fame with his many years behind the bassist, rejoined the band on the first day of recording.
The album, although not generally regarded as one of Mingus's greatest, does feature three remarkable compositions: "Canon," " Opus 3," and "Opus 4." "Canon" is a theme, as the title suggests, that can be superimposed upon itself. The song has a spiritual character, a la Coltrane, and is played with a warm sound by Pullen and Adams. This tune was also released on Hal Willner's tribute CD: Weird Nightmare - Meditations on Mingus. "Opus 3" is based on the Mingus's 1957 composition "Pithecanthropus Erectus," in which certain sections are played without key or meter restrictions. "Opus 4" is a straight-ahead swinger that features Don Pullen playing a free solo part.
The other tunes include "Moves," a composition written and sung (along with Honi Gordon) by Doug Hammond
Doug Hammond
Doug Hammond is a free funk/avant-garde jazz drummer, professor, composer, poet and producer from Tampa, Florida, U.S.A...
, Richmond's predecessor; "Wee," the bop standard, arranged by Sy Johnson
Sy Johnson
Sy Johnson is a jazz arranger and pianist who worked with Charles Mingus in the 1970s. He also worked with the Lee Konitz Nonet among others. His work with Mingus is his best known.- References :...
, who also worked with Mingus on Let My Children Hear Music (1971) and Mingus and Friends in Concert (1972); "Flowers," written by Adams; and "Newcomer" by Pullen, dedicated to his newborn daughter.
The CD released in 1993 contains the bonus tracks "Big Alice" and "The Call," which were recorded during the same sessions.
Track listing
(All compositions by Mingus except where noted.)- "Canon" – 5:28
- "Opus 4" – 6:39
- "Moves" (Doug HammondDoug HammondDoug Hammond is a free funk/avant-garde jazz drummer, professor, composer, poet and producer from Tampa, Florida, U.S.A...
) – 3:43 - "Wee" (Denzil BestDenzil BestDenzil DaCosta Best was an American jazz percussionist and composer born in New York City. He was a prominent bebop drummer in the 1950s and early '60s....
) – 8:57 - "Flowers for a Lady" (George AdamsGeorge Adams (musician)George Rufus Adams was an American jazz musician who played tenor saxophone, flute and bass clarinet. He is best known for his work with Charles Mingus, Gil Evans, Roy Haynes and in the quartet he co-led with pianist Don Pullen, featuring bassist Cameron Brown and drummer Dannie Richmond...
)– 6:44 - "Newcomer" (Don PullenDon PullenDon Pullen was an American jazz pianist and organist. Pullen developed a strikingly individual style throughout his career. He composed masterworks ranging from blues to bebop and modern jazz...
) – 7:13 - "Opus 3" – 10:26
- "Big Alice" (Pullen) – 5:44 (bonus track)
- "The Call" – 7:13 (bonus track)
Personnel
- Ronald Hampton - Trumpet
- Doug HammondDoug HammondDoug Hammond is a free funk/avant-garde jazz drummer, professor, composer, poet and producer from Tampa, Florida, U.S.A...
– Vocals - Honi Gordon - Vocals
- George AdamsGeorge Adams (musician)George Rufus Adams was an American jazz musician who played tenor saxophone, flute and bass clarinet. He is best known for his work with Charles Mingus, Gil Evans, Roy Haynes and in the quartet he co-led with pianist Don Pullen, featuring bassist Cameron Brown and drummer Dannie Richmond...
- Tenor sax, Flute - Dannie RichmondDannie RichmondDannie Richmond was an American drummer who was best known among jazz fans for his work with Charles Mingus, and among pop fans for his work with Joe Cocker, Elton John and Mark-Almond....
- Drums - Don PullenDon PullenDon Pullen was an American jazz pianist and organist. Pullen developed a strikingly individual style throughout his career. He composed masterworks ranging from blues to bebop and modern jazz...
- Piano - Charles MingusCharles MingusCharles Mingus Jr. was an American jazz musician, composer, bandleader, and civil rights activist.Mingus's compositions retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music while sometimes drawing on elements of Third stream, free jazz, and classical music...
– Bass
External links
- Nat HentoffNat HentoffNathan Irving "Nat" Hentoff is an American historian, novelist, jazz and country music critic, and syndicated columnist for United Media and writes regularly on jazz and country music for The Wall Street Journal....
: Liner Notes for Mingus Moves (Atlantic) - Paula Edelstein in allaboutjazz http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=4151
- Andrew Homzy, in: Charles Mingus, More Than a Fake Book. Hal Leonard Corporation 1991 ISBN 0-7935-0900-9