Ah Um

Mingus new to me and this is not my usual style, but it's good to get out of the comfort zone once in a while.(There's only so much Miles and Nordic jazz one can listen to, after all.) This really grew and has been a constant presence around the turntable since. Especially worth a trial at that price.

I listened to Van Morrison talking about him, as never listened to him and choose this album as starting point. Easy to listen to and I would buy more of his albums based on this.

A must for any Mingus fan the very brilliant Ah Um

This 1959 album by master jazz player and composer Charles Mingus is rightly acknowledged as one of Mingus' (and indeed jazz's) finest and most diverse set of compositions. Whilst the album does not have (or need) the vast expansive instrumental sound of Mingus' 1963 masterpiece, The Black Saint And Sinner Lady, its sparser feel is perfectly suited to Mingus' compositions here, particularly on the exquisite slower and moody numbers (of which there is an outstanding selection here).Of the musicians Mingus assembled for the album, both John Handy's alto and Booker Ervin's tenor playing are particularly noteworthy and idiosyncratic, whilst Jimmy Knepper's trombone is featured in a number of outstanding solos (none better than his sinuous turn on the wonderful slow blues of Pussy Cat Dues, in this case over Handy's rare clarinet theme). Of the more up-tempo numbers, the famous opener, gospel-inspired Better Git It In Your Soul is an fine example, as Handy and Ervin's horns harmonise nicely following Mingus' sultry opening riff, whilst the 12-bar blues Boogie Stop Shuffle is probably the most vibrant number here, with all three saxes (including Shafi Hadi's tenor) making significant contributions to the composition's unrelenting pace.For me, however, it is on the slower, blues-based numbers that the band's mood playing is particularly affecting. The aforementioned Pussy Cat Dues is a highlight, as is Mingus' famous tribute to tenor player Lester Young, Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (ironically, Young died just two months before this recording ), and on which Handy provides a sublimely heartfelt solo, whilst Mingus' 'tribute' to racist Arkansas governor Orval Faubus (who objected to high school racial integration), Fables Of Faubus is another nicely judged blues of faltering pace, featuring one of pianist Horace Parlan's longer solos, but whose overall feel seems strangely light for such a serious subject.In addition, the 1998 CD re-issue of the album, as well as including (for the first time) the full-length versions of the original album's nine tracks, also includes three additional worthy numbers, the infectious up-tempo Pedal Point Blues, the similarly unrelenting GG Train (featuring Handy's alto) and a more conventional cover of Sonny Clapp's Girl Of My Dreams.

Super recording of some super music.

a brand new purchase on amazon for a 3 cd superb collection on the original Columbia label of equally superb peak era Charles Mingus and his life affirming ensemble + big band Ellington meets gospel meets blues meets anarchic bop/swing.this collection features three Lps :the classic "Ah-Um", the lesser known but marvellous big band "Mingus Dynasty", + fascinating "Alternative Takes". original artwork,extensive detailed booklet notes, many unseen photos of the big man - all make this ridiculously cheap 3 cd collection - the real deal. the music should be by now be familiar to most jazz fans - ie swinging,anarchic,loose yet tightly played essential jazz. the amazon track listing here - only shows the "Ah Um" lp tracks + omits the other 2 cds tracks on "Mingus Dynasty" + "Alternative Takes" by the way. there are actually a total of 28 tracks in all on this Columbia collection. terrific value + several rare unreleased tracks also.avoid the weaker newer release on Not Now label with its inferior booklet notes + packaging (+ crucially no rare unreleased material, like on this collection) and get this original Columbia collection for authentic,quality release of one of the linchpins of afro-american music. and now onto the equally wonderous 1980's lp "full force" by the art ensemble of chicago. yum.

good quality and excellent sound on my system

This album, along with three others (Miles Davies - Kind of Blue, Ornette Coleman - The Shape of Jazz to Come and Dave Brubeck - Time Out) were recently identified as key albums that shaped Jazz in 1959. Fifty years on, this album still has the power to amaze.The opening track, Better Git it in Your Soul, is a joyous stomp, leading onto Good By Pork Pie Hat which is a calm and charming piece. There then follows Boogie Stop Shuffle - simply one of the most thrilling pieces of Jazz I have ever heard - with a driven bass line, fabulous saxophone and trumpet.The treasures keep coming - Bird Calls (a tribute to Charlie Parker) bursts with the be-bop inspired dissonance Parker loved. There's even political comment: Fable to Faubus (a governor of Arkansas opposed to racial integration) seems to mock the governor for his attitudes.This edition has three extra tracks over the original album. If you have only an early CD release or LP and love this album, this edition is worth buying for the extra tracks. This edition also contains a decent illustrated booklet with material from 1959 and later critical review which makes it worth buying the CD rather than downloading.