Customer Reviews

Gun Slinging Bird

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wow...I need a moment to collect myself...some of the hottest, most rollicking, hell-bent for leather blowing you will ever listen to. The Mingus band has long been one of the tightest NY ensembles and after hearing this album, it's not hard to see why! Every track smokes with one first-call soloist after another. A few highlights: Steve Slagle's blazing alto solo on "Fables of Faubus" (listen to him squeal and burn when the band comes in!), Philip Harper's white-hot trumpet interlude on the same tune (Lee Morgan? Are you in there?) and finally John Stubblefield scraping the bottom of the gutbucket and then digging even deeper on "Hog-Calling Blues". If this music doesn't shake you to your very core, check your pulse!

Charles Mingus' compositions are sophisticated, very original, and extremely emotional. I think he will be considered one of the best composers of this century. The Mingus Big Band have put out numerous exceptional albums of his exquisite music, and this is one of the very best. You won't believe it when you hear how tight and fast the horns negotiate the riffs on "Jump Monk"! This is truly a top-notch album.

One of the Best CDs of all time. While not a "classic" jazz CD nothing can hang with it while cruisin down the road. This CD rocks and rolls and has some of the dopest soloists around. It matters not what kind of music you have listened to in the the past...BUY THIS CD!

If you appreciate the big band sound this album is tops. Tonight I experienced a live performance of tracks 1,2,4 & 5 and had to have this CD. Band leader, tenor, flutist and arranger Steve Slagle brought eight or so of the artists on this CD to Detroit's Orchestra Hall noted for its acoustics. That they played so many selections from this CD says something. Those same tracks live up to my expectations, and I'm sure I'll consider this purchase one of my best ever as time goes on. If you appreciate big bands, this is the best playing today.

The energy level is outragously high on the tracks on this CD. "Hog Callin' Blues" is beyond any blues I've heard (they actually make hog sounds through their horns). I've heard them play tracks 1, 2, and 4 live before. Well worth the money!

Before I was allowed to borrow this CD, I was not a Jazz listener. I loved to play Jazz trombone, but i was more of a popular music listener. Man did this CD change my life. I now am a huge fan of the Mingus Big Band and hot Jazz. No matter what kind of music you listen to, buy this CD and turn it to number 5 "Fables of Faubus."

I was never originally big on jazz, but my band director told me about this album and I've been hooked on all things Mingus ever since! I would recommend it to anyone in an instant. It's angsty, upbeat, spiritual, dynamic, emotional, passionate, features great soloists, and embodies a unique intensity that I still haven't found an equal to!