A fantastic album – one of our favorite-ever records from Charles Mingus! The album was recorded in the same breath as his legendary works Tijuana Moods, The Clown, and Pithecanthropus Erectus – and it features the same sort of fire and emotion that made those classics so great. The group alone is amazing – with Horace Parlan on piano, Shafi Hadi on alto and tenor, Jimmy Knepper on trombone, and the amazing Clarence (aka Gene) Shaw on trumpet – all getting plenty of room to open up on the album's longer tracks! The work bristles with a sense of imagination and dark energy that Mingus hardly had in his music in later years – and each new tune brings a fresh sense of vision that never fails to astound us! In keeping with the "poetry" title, the album begins with an incredible 12 minute track "Scenes in the City" – which features a long spoken bit written by Langston Hughes about one man's love of jazz and the way that it affects his life in the city – all supported with excellent instrumentation from the group. Other titles are instrumental, and include "Nouroog", "New York Sketchbook", "Slippers", and "Duke's Choice". CD also features 3 bonus tracks – "Woody N You", "Billie's Bounce", and an alternate take of "Slippers". (Jazz, Comedy) CD

A classic album of off-color party songs from the notorious Davis/Beacon label – a key force in bringing some of the raunchier sounds of the strip clubs and burlesque houses to the world of the turntable in the living room! The title and cover should give you a good idea of what you're getting into – tunes that are full of double-entendres, and plenty of references to the more sensual side of life – delivered with jazzy backings that help the more subtle side of the messages slide in nicely! Faye Richmonde delivers the tunes "I Want A Man To Gimme Some Luck", "Tony's Got Hot Nuts", "Sadie's Still Got The Rag On", and "My Pussy Belongs To Daddy" – and other tracks include "I Tried It Everywhere" and "She Sits Among The Cabbages & Peas" by Saul T Peter, "Hey Mister Ice Man" and "Things Are Soft For Grandma" by Miss Dee, and "He Forgot His Rubbers" by Angelina. CD