Charles Mingus Mingus Ah Um © CBS Records, Inc. CBS 450436 2 (Europe) Compact Disc

It is incredible that Mingus can dredge out of the contemporary slough the potency and healing grace of his music. Pieces like 'Fables Of Faubus' 'Goodbye Pork Pie Hat' and others are miracles of a kind. They are there, available, God knows, for anyone of those not so bugged by the crazy barrage of the Communication of Nothing that they can still hear. Poetry and music are for those with straight connections between ears, eyes, head, heart, and gut.

Jonathan Williams, poet (from liner notes)

Tracks

1. Better Git It In Your Soul (7:22)
2. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (4:46)
3. Boogie Stop Shuffle (3:41)
4. Self-Portrait In Three Colors (3:05)
5. Open Letter To Duke (4:56)
6. Bird Calls (3:12)
7. Fables Of Faubus (8:12)
8. Pussy Cat Dues (6:27)
9. Jelly Roll (4:01)

   All compositions by Charles Mingus

Personnel

• John Handy - alto sax (1,6,7,9), clarinet (8), tenor sax (2)
• Booker Ervin - tenor sax
• Shafi Hadi - tenor sax except 2
• Willie Dennis - trombone on 3-5
• Jimmy Knepper - trombone on 1 and 7-9
• Horace Parlan - piano
• Charles Mingus - bass
• Dannie Richmond - drums

Information

Date and location

• 1,6-9: May 5, 1959, Columbia 30th Street Studio, New York City
• 2-5: May 12, 1959, Columbia 30th Street Studio, New York City

Total time

45:56

Original issue (year)

Columbia CS 8171

Reissues (year)

• Columbia CG 30628 (197?, 2LP) as half of "Better Git It In Your Soul"
• Columbia CK 40648 (CD, USA)

Producer

Teo Macero

Engineer

Ray Moore

Liner notes

Diane Dorr-Dorynek

Comments

Lead sheets to all compositions except 'Bird Calls' are available in More Than A Fake Book.

See also

• Mingus Dynasty