An unusual chapter in the label-hopping career of
Charles Mingus – a one-off date recorded for Mercury right after
Mingus' legendary sessions for Columbia! The format here may well be
Mingus' most ambitious to date – as the album features larger groups than before, exploring a range of musical ideas that run from
Charles' own highly political expressions of the Civil Rights era to some of his landmark explorations of Duke Ellington! As always, the individual players in the group are given a strong voice in the proceedings – and the record bristles
with energy from solos by Ted Curson,
Eric Dolphy, Booker Ervin, Jimmy Knepper, Yusef Lateef, and a young Joe Farrell – as well as vocal performances by Lorraine Cousins, who sings on the classic "Weird Nightmare" and the haunting "Eclipse". A tremendous record throughout – filled
with life, imagination, and boundless creativity –
with titles that include "
Mingus Fingus no. 2", "Weird Nightmare", "Eclipse", "Bemoanable Lady", "Half Mast Inhibition", and "Prayer for Passive Resistance".
(Part of the Verve Acoustic Sounds series pressing – heavy cover and vinyl!)