DogAndPanda: mingus at carnegie hall.txt
This was a jam session, pure and simple, a gathering of men from other Mingus bands to join the master with his latest one, onstage at Carnegie Hall. John Handy came in from the coast, a veteran of the impassioned bands of the late 50's; Charles McPherson, who has added Bird-like dimensions to ten years of Mingus service; Jon Faddis, who came to play lead trumpet at Snookie Young's recommendation for Mingus' Philharmonic Hall concert, and who stayed to fill the ailing Roy Eldridge's shoes on Little Royal Suite; and of course Rahsaan Roland Kirk, always ready to jam, star of several Mingus ensembles in his early years. They joined the current Mingus band, George Adams on tenor; Hamiet Bluiett, baritone; Don Pullen, piano; and the other half of Mingus' heart beat, Dannie Richmond on drums, who has seen more Mingus service than anyone else. For materials to play, Mingus went to the common denominator of jazz, C Jam Blues and a near-blues in its universality, Perdido, both songs associated with the late Duke Ellington.
C Jam Blues begins with John Handy's tenor, an instrument not usually associated with him, but which Mingus had asked him to bring. He is followed by Hamiet Bluiett, frequently sounding like a tenor on his baritone saxophone, exploring the extreme registers and sonorities of the instrument. George Adams follows Bluiett, moving outside very quickly, at which point, Mingus notes, Rahsaan Roland Kirk began "listenin' his
ass." When Rahsaan follows, he begins simply, but before he has played one chorus, he suddenly lunges into a George Adams imitation. A delighted Mingus recalls, "he was cuttin' him at his own shit." The lesson over, Rahsaan plays a long solo, full of climaxes. At one point during a Ben Webster-like growl, Mingus said, "he didn't forget the blues." Jon Faddis begins his solo with a typical Dizzy announcement, and goes on to praise Gillespie. Charles McPherson plays the last solo, appropriately Bird-like. After the closing line, Rahsaan begins one of his non-stop drones as a pedal for some outside playing by the others. At one point, continuing his friendly rivalry with Adams, he reaches out and fingers Adams' tenor, while Adams fingers his, each continuing to blow his own horn. It brought the house to its feet for a standing ovation.
The solo order on Perdido is John Handy, on alto this time; Hamiet Bluiett on baritone; Rahsaan Roland Kirk on tenor and stritch; Charles McPherson, alto; George Adams, tenor; Jon Faddis, trumpet; and Don Pullen, piano. Underpinning is provided throughout by the surging power team of Mingus and Dannie Richmond.
Perhaps the best appraisal of this concert was contained in a letter from
Art Weiner, proposing an annual Charles Mingus Jam Session, and
calling this "one of the most exciting concerts we at New Audiences have
ever produced."
SY JOHNSON, 1974
Thepersonnel is:
charles mingus george adams hamiet bluiett jon faddis john handy rahsaan roland kirk charles Mcpherson don pullen dannie richmond
Bass
Tenor sax
Baritone sax
Trumpet
Alto & tenor saxes
Tenor sax & stritch
Alto sax
Piano
Drums
Recorded live at Carnegie Hall, January 19, 1974 by Location Recorders.
Recording engineer: Aaron J. Baron
Photography: Gosta Peterson • Original album design: Jean Dupuy
PRODUCED BY JOEL DORN & ILHAN MIMAROGLU EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: NESUHI ERTEGUN
£J 1. £7 7*1 *>*3Cff
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UDCD 599 STEREO
PI COMPACT
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DIGITAL AUDIO
ANALOG-ANALOG-DIGITAL
GUESTARTISTS:
jon faddis / john handy / rahsaan roland kirk / charles Mcpherson
THE MINGUS GROUP:
GEORGE ADAMS / HAMIETBLUIETT/ DON PULLEN / DANNIE RICHMOND
l.CJAM BLUES-24:32
By Duke Ellington; Robbins
2. PERDIDO-21:53
By Juan TizoL Hans Lengsfelder & En/in Drake; Tempo
MINGUS AT CARNEGIE HALL