Mingus Dynasty [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Charles Mingus | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 16, 1999)
• Original Release Date: 1960
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000I150
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #154,424 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: MINGUS,CHARLES
Title: MINGUS DYNASTY
Street Release Date: 02/16/1999
Domestic
Genre: JAZZ

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shades of Ellington, March 9, 2001

By 

M. Allen Greenbaum (California) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mingus Dynasty (Audio CD)

Mingus was a great admirer of Duke Ellington and played in the latter's band until a notorious onstage fight with Juan Tizol. This album contains a variety of Mingus sounds, but much of the feeling is rooted in Ellington. This is especially true on "Song with Orange," "Things Ain't What They Used To Be," and, of course, "Mood Indigo."

The opener, "Slop (what a great title!)" is in the tradition of other aggressive blues/gospel inspired pieces like "Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting," and "Better Git It Into Your Soul." There are some familiar Mingus motifs, but Mingus "owns" this kind of song--no one does it better.

"Diane" begins with some "classical" piano which is a little overly dramatic at times. However, three minutes into it, Roland Hanna breaks into a soft Bill-Evans like mode, with excellent brush- and cymbal-work by the always-magnificent Dannie Richmond. It's an ambitious, beautiful, piece and mostly successful. "Gunslinging Bird," (the full title, as Mingus states in the excellent liner notes, is "If Charlie Parker Were a Gunslinger There'd Be a Whole Lot of Dead Copycats"), seems to play Bird as one baad dude.

"Things Ain't What They Used To Be," (written by Mercer Ellington, Duke's son) is relatively straight ahead jazz and borrows elements from Ellington and Basie. The next two numbers are also fairly straight, but are a little disappointing: Except for an intriguing middle sandwiched between a "Sketches of Spain"-like arrangement, "Far Well, Mill Valley" is less challenging than the other cuts (as is also track 7, "New Now Know How.")

The CD closes strong with 3 great tracks: "Mood Indigo," with its great, driving piano and bass playing, the short, interesting "Put Me in That Dungeon," and "Strollin,'" which features vocals by Honey Gordon (sounding wonderfully similar to Ella). This cut was not on the original LP.

Mingus uses Hanna quite extensively on the album, and his contributions are enormous. Jimmy Knepper (trombone) and Booker Ervin (tenor sax) also shine, but really the entire lineup is excellent. ("Pithecanthropus Erectus," by the way, highlights Mingus' bass playing more than does "Mingus Dynasty.") This CD shows the Mingus dynamic within a large group format, and it gets better and better with every hearing. There are the original liner notes, plus additional notes by biographer Brian Priestley, and some excellent photos of Mingus playing and relaxing. Even if you're a Mingus fan with most of his CDs, this is a worthwhile addition.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an encyclopedia of Jazz on one CD..., March 10, 2001

By 

kevin horst (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mingus Dynasty (Audio CD)

First off, I really like this CD. I've been listening to jazz since I was a kid and this recording encompasses all that I enjoy in the jazz genre.

I like this set because it is full of surprises - surprises in mood, styles, tempo, keys, and even the spontaneous holler. Ming (he IS one-quarter Chinese) and his largish combos dip their toes and then dive headlong into several jazz styles including bop, straight ahead, slow 'n sultry, solos, horn combos, and even occasionally atonal.

I like this CD because I can hear Mingus play his bass!

I like playing this CD as background at my wine and cheese parties to guide novices unwittingly into all the wonderful flavors of jazz without scaring them (with hard bop) or boring them with mass market cuts. But I really like listening to it alone on Sunday afternoons when I find that each layer I peel reveals to me another to look forward to uncovering the next Sunday afternoon.

In summary, this CD is an encyclopedia, in that it opens the minds of those locked in single styles and artists, with a superb range of textures, tempos, and tunes. And better, it confirms what the jazz sophisticate already knows...when it comes to pleasant surprises and artistic execution, Ming is king.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strollin', September 18, 2000

By 

"wednightprayermeeting" (Bellview, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mingus Dynasty (Audio CD)

This is an excellent album. The remastering by Columbia is superb, as well.

This album has a similar feel to it's more famous predecessor, AH UM, but is in no means inferior. The intensity of this music is unmatched.

Songs such as "Strollin'," the humorous "Slop," and "Song With Orange" drive along with a swagger and strut associated only with Mingus' powerful bass.

The song title of "Gunslinging Bird" was shortened from "If Charlie Parker Were A Gunslinger, There Would Be A Whole Lot Of Dead Copy Cats," at the request of Columbia Records.

"Mood Indigo" is a Duke Ellington classic. Mingus takes on this daunting piece with fervor, encouraging his brass players to wheel off tenacious solos.

A wonderful companion to AH UM, but certainly does stand on it's own ground.

Masterful.