#solo dancer

Sweet Green Bean Quiche w Mushrooms and Garlic

Track A- Solo Dancer- Charles Mingus

JOE'S JAZZY JAUNTS: Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, and Allen Toussaint

This week hasn’t brought many exciting new releases, so I’m going to fire up the time machine and step into the past. The destination will be iTunes’ “Jazz Albums Under $8” page, a repository of classic recordings at great prices. I’m going to highlight a few favorites, which are so dirt cheap that you have no excuse not to check them out.

Charles Mingus: The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady

Bassist Charles Mingus specialized in large-scale compositions with mixed ensembles. I appreciate this album of his the most, due to the number of places it goes. While it is divided into four tracks, it is really one long work, originally intended to accompany a ballet. This is reflected in the track names, which reference sets of dancers. There are eleven musicians present throughout, resulting in big group swells and smaller individual moments.

John Coltrane: One Down/One Up

This album captures two performances by the legendary tenor saxophonist at the Half Note, a New York City club. While it was recorded in 1965, it didn’t see its release until 40 years later, in 2005. The group playing is Coltrane’s “Classic Quartet,” featuring pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison, and drummer Elvin Jones. What I like most about it is the chance to hear the musicians stretch out songs and take their solos to extremes. There are only four tracks, but they last as long as 27 minutes.

Allen Toussaint: The Bright Mississippi

This is a more recent album, made by the famed New Orleans pianist Allen Toussaint. The overall mood is relaxed and easygoing, and no one seemed to mind sequencing three songs with “Blues” in the title in quick succession. However, the supporting cast is killer, with a handful of talented names. Tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman (whose work with James Farm I covered a few weeks ago) and trumpeter Nicholas Payton round out the wind section. Also appearing are pianist Brad Mehldau and the extremely versatile guitarist Marc Ribot.

Charles Mingus - Solo Dancer 

JAZZ WARS