Cornell 1964

Product Description:

Charles Mingus Sextet/Eric Dolphy: Clifford Jordan (tenor saxophone); Johnny Coles (trumpet); Jaki Byard (piano); Cahrles Mingus (bass guitar); Dannie Richmond (drums).

Additional personnel: Eric Dolphy (alto saxophone).

Charles Mingus led some outstanding ensembles, but one of the most formidable was the group he assembled in the early 1960s for a tour of Europe. CORNELL 1964 features that group in action on two discs of previously unreleased material. With Dannie Richmond on drums, Jaki Bayard on piano, Clifford Jordan on tenor sax, Johnny Coles on trumpet, and the great Eric Dolphy on bass clarinet, flute, and saxophone, Mingus's sextet--especially on the evidence of the performances here--ranks as one of the best of the post-bop era.

Mingus's bold, complex compositions are brought to full flower by the interplay of the musicians, and what dazzles throughout is their equal command of elegant melodic passages and wild, forward-leaning improvisation. The standards here--"Take the A Train;" "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling"--receive a similar treatment. The performances are stellar across the board, but Dolphy stands out in particular, wheeling through solos with imaginative dexterity and wit. This set is a must for Mingus fans, but merits a listen from jazz fans of any stripe.