Provavelmente o ponto mais alto da carreira do "Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop" durante os anos 50 e um dos seus trabalhos mais inovadores e provocadores aclamado como uma verdadeira Obra Prima do Jazz. Masterizado a 45rpm por Bernie Grundman a partir das Master Tapes Originais prensado em vinil 180gr na RTI e apresentado numa capa "gatefold" Deluxe laminada.

The Absolute Sound 40th Anniversary Best Sounding Music

Incluído no Vinyl Gourmet TOP 100 Audiófilo

• Edição Limitada (2500 Unidades Mundialmente)
• Edição Numerada
• Capa Gatefold Laminada Deluxe
• Vinil 180 Gramas Audiófilo 45rpm
• Duplo LP prensado na RTI USA
• Masterizado por Bernie Grundman
• Corte a partir das Master Tapes Analógicas Originais

One of the most important figures in twentieth century American music, Charles Mingus was a virtuoso bass player, accomplished pianist, bandleader and composer. His early professional experience, in the 40's, found him touring with bands like Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory and Lionel Hampton. Eventually he settled in New York where he played and recorded with the leading musicians of the 1950's– Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Bud Powell, Art Tatum and Duke Ellington himself.

One of the few bassists to do so, Mingus quickly developed as a leader of musicians. From the 1960's until his death in 1979 at age 56, Mingus remained in the forefront of American music. When asked to comment on his accomplishments, Mingus said that his abilities as a bassist were the result of hard work but that his talent for composition came from God.

Charles Mingus’ 1959 Columbia sessions were both a summation of his diverse work up to that point and a bold step forward, for it was the year when at last he had the opportunity to sign with a major label and work with an old friend and musical collaborator, Teo Macero at Columbia Records.

There was no stopping this incredible musical mind who’d found his voice as a bassist, composer and bandleader. The bands that Mingus assembled at Columbia’s 30th Street studio in May and November of ‘59 consisted of the greatest exponents of his music to date, featuring sidemen Jimmy Knepper, John Handy, Booker Ervin, Horace Parlan and Dannie Richmond.

These 1959 sessions, which resulted in Mingus Ah Um and Mingus Dynasty, introduced several classics that would become evergreens in the bassist’s repertoire and jazz standards including: “Better Git It In Your Soul,” “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” and “Fables Of Faubus” plus homages to jazz greats Ellington (“Open Letter To Duke”), with whom Mingus is most frequently compared for the vastness, depth and diversity of his recordings, and Morton (“Jelly Roll”), jazz’s first great composer.

"At a memorial following Mingus' death, Steve Schlesinger of the Guggenheim Foundation commented that Mingus was one of the few artists who received two grants and added: 'I look forward to the day when we can transcend labels like jazz and acknowledge Charles Mingus as the major American composer that he is.' The New Yorker wrote: 'For sheer melodic and rhythmic and structural originality, his compositions may equal anything written in western music in the twentieth century.'" - All About Jazz

Músicos:

Charles Mingus, contrabaixo, piano
John Handy, saxofone alto & tenor, clarinete
Booker Ervin, saxofone tenor
Shafi Hadi, saxofone tenor & alto
Willie Dennis, trombone
Jimmy Knepper, trombone
Horace Parlan, piano
Dannie Richmond, bateria

Track Listing:

1. Better Git It in Your Soul
2. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
3. Boogie Stop Shuffle
4. Self-Portrait in Three Colors
5. Open Letter to Duke
6. Bird Calls
7. Fables of Faubus
8. Pussy Cat Dues
9. Jelly Roll

"Uma verdadeira pérola audiófila, este é o tipo de edição em vinil que responde a todas as dúvidas, e que faz com que tudo valha a pena. Pela música, pela performance, e por esta reedição absolutamente perfeita, Mingus Ah Um é um album indispensável em qualquer colecção e uma adição óbvia à lista Vinyl Gourmet TOP 100 Audiófilo!"

"9 estrelas em 10 para a Música! 9 estrelas em 10 para o Som!"

Clique aqui para ler a crítica audiófila no Blog ViciAudio

Clique aqui para ouvir samples no AllMusic.com