Tijuana Moods: First Edt (Dig) [Original recording remastered, Import]

Charles Mingus | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 25, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered, Import
• Label: RCA Victor Europe
• ASIN: B00005O6KH
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #60,824 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deserves to be much better known..., February 26, 2004

By 

William E. Adams (Midland, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tijuana Moods: First Edt (Dig) (Audio CD)

If I ask a casual fan of '50's jazz to name the album I am about to describe, I know what the answer would be. First the description: A jazz genius creates a suite for large group, in which the influence of a foreign land is dominant. Of course, "Sketches of Spain" by Miles Davis and Gil Evans comes right to mind. But the description fits "Tijuana Moods" as well, and for my tastes, this Charles Mingus project is far more satisfying than the ultra-famous Davis record. Why is "Tijuana" superior? For one thing, it is lively, not melancholy. The Davis work has beauty, but is so unrelentingly somber that I seldom play it. "Tijuana Moods" is great fun, and worth hearing two times in a row. Mingus fanatics already own it, and for casual fans, the price of this package might be too high, but I found mine recently at a huge discount and I am delighted--so you might shop around. It would be hard for me to say this project is better than Charles' Columbia release "Mingus Ah Um"---although done only two years apart, with similar arrangements and some of the same musicians, the two records are quite different in effect. Both are super. The best part of this Bluebird double-disc set is the original "Moods" album issued in 1962 (although recorded in '57.)The first five songs on Disc One give the listener that experience. The rest of CD One are alternate takes of four of those tracks, worth hearing for sure. Disc Two presents more alternate takes, some false starts, some rehearsal or session chatter, and a long poem set to music, but not meant as part of the "Tijuana Moods" package. It also is worth hearing once or twice, but Disc One is the treasure--all 77 minutes are interesting. If you can buy Disc One separately, it might be a better value than the two-disc set. The booklet here is informative, the packaging colorful. Sound quality seems great to me. If you like other Mingus albums, you surely will love this one.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent music for the ages!, November 15, 2004

By 

madamemusico "madamemusico" (Cincinnati, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tijuana Moods: First Edt (Dig) (Audio CD)

No two ways about it.....Charles Mingus was one of the greatest American composers, regardless of genre, certainly greater than Copland and Gershwin, possibly even greater than Duke Ellington (though, of course, Mingus came partly from Ellington, and Ellington created a completely unique sound-world that had not existed in music before). By co-opting classical composition techniques, applying modal and Eastern scales and harmonies, and skilfully blending in improvised solos and ensembles that both complement and enhance the whole, he created an entirely new vision and sound-world that had not existed before...what he called "jazzical moods."

Tijuana Moods is one of the prime exponents of this style, and in some ways the most perfect. Mingus made sure of this by editing the working tapes himself in the RCA studios prior to release. I personally feel that the earlier, rejected take of "Los Mariachis" is superior to the commercial release, it is sadder and has more feeling though the playing is not as crisp. But no matter which takes you prefer, this is undoubtedly one of the landmarks in 20th century music. High recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Is this THE BEST Mingus ever?, September 6, 2010

By 

Nikica Gilic - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tijuana Moods: First Edt (Dig) (Audio CD)

I can very much understand those who would answer the question affirmatively, although I'm not that sure; also, it may not be my favorite Mingus album...
But it's MAGNIFICENT, no doubt about it. As usual, orchestra with only three horns sounds almost like a full fledged big band, with richness of textures and sounds only Mingus can orchestrate...
Naturally, having Dannie Richmond on drums helps quite a bit and he did add occasional vocal by himself or Ysabel Morel, and the castanets of Frankie Dunlop (not very common in jazz masterpieces, no doubt about that)....
Mingus fans know everything about the magnificent Jimmy Knepper (the trombone that shakes you to the bone), Shafi Hadi is also excellent on saxes, but fiercly passionate Clarence Shaw IS the true revellation of this album...

CD 2 with various alternate takes (if you have that edition) is of some interest, but it is not really necessary - CD 1 is brilliant enough. So, if you dwell on spending little less money on a cheaper edition, without extra tracks on CD 2, I recommend you go with it. You don't need anything extra with such richness of music.
His royal Mingusness has done it again...

And, yes, this has Mexican ellements, but it's no world music, pop music, mexican music or anything else but pure jazz, bursting with emotion, various influences and originality at the same time.