Saturday, October 21, 2006

Yahoo LAUNCHCAST song of the day


Artist:Charles Mingus

Song:Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting

Album:Blues & Roots





Charles Mingus is one of jazz's greatest composers and the greatest bassist in jazz history. But this was somewhat overshadowed by his viloent temper and turbulent personal life. He was known to punch guys out on the bandstand. I guess that contributes to the power of his music. Many times critics would take Mingus to task for experimenting with the boundaries of jazz. So 1959's Blues & Roots is sort of a return to his roots just to silence the critics. Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting is a classic and it even swings. Musicians include John Handy & Jackie McLean on alto sax, Booker Ervin on tenor sax, Pepper Adams on baritone sax, Willie Dennis & Jimmie Knepper on trombone, Horace Parlan & Mal Waldron on piano and Dannie Richmond on drums. Blues & Roots is well worth checking out. Charles Mingus died of Lou Gehrig's Disease on Jan. 5, 1979 at age 56.

No comments:

Post a Comment