180g Vinyl Remastered from the Original Master Tapes!
Bassist / composer Charles Mingus is one of the most radical figures in Americanmusic. Throughout the ’50s, he worked as a sideman with legendary playersCharlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and more. In the ’60s, he gained recognition asa bandleader, often followed by controversy for making strong-minded statementsin the press about race, politics, and stodgy music critics. While Mingusreceived many honors posthumously as well as during his career, perhaps hisgreatest achievement was transcending the restrictive label of jazz. MingusPlays Piano, released just a few months after his masterpiece The Black Saintand The Sinner Lady, is the only record to feature Mingus performing on hisinstrument of choice for composing.
From the opening track, appropriately titled ”Myself When I Am Real,” Mingusshrugs off any virtuosic pretensions of solo albums and stakes out moreintrospective territory. These trance-like, poetic musings reveal a tendernessrarely associated with Mingus, reminiscent of Erik Satie’s piano works and ArtTatum’s free rhythmic style. This long out-of-print vinyl release has beencarefully remastered from the original master tapes.
Features:
180g Vinyl
Remastered from the original master tapes
Gatefold Jacket
Musicians:
Charles Mingus, piano
Selections:
Side One:
1. Myself When I Am Real
2. I Can’t Get Started
3. Body and Soul
4. Roland Kirk’s Message
5. Memories of You
6. She’s Just Miss Popular Hybrid
Side Two:
1. Orange Was the Color of Her Dress; Then Silk Blues
2. Meditations for Moses
3. Old Portrait
4. I’m Getting Sentimental Over You
5. Compositional Theme Story…Medleys, Anthems and Folklore
