A Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry
| A Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Charles Mingus | ||||
| Released | 1957 | |||
| Recorded | October 1957 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 57:29 | |||
| Label | Bethlehem | |||
| Producer | Jeff Palo | |||
| Charles Mingus chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| LA Times |  [2] |
| Penguin Guide to Jazz | (8th ed.) [3] |
A Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry is an album by jazz bassist Charles Mingus. In spite of the title, the album does not contain any poetry.[1] "Scenes in the City", however, includes narration performed by Mel Stewart and written by actor Lonne Elder with assistance from Langston Hughes.[2][4][5] The composition "Duke's Choice" re-appears, in updated form, as "I X Love" on the 1963 album Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus.[6][7][8] "Nouroog", "Duke's Choice" and "Slippers" form the basis of the suite "Open Letter to Duke" on Mingus Ah Um.[9]
The CD issues of the album include three bonus tracks: the Dizzy Gillespie standard "Woody 'n' You", Charlie Parker's "Billie's Bounce", which is listed as "Bounce" and miscredited to Mingus, and an alternate take of "Slippers".[10]
Reception
The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow called it "An excellent set of challenging yet often accessible music".[1] The Penguin Guide to Jazz gives the album a three-star review (of a possible four stars), and describes it as "an opportunity for Mingus to experiment with texts and with pure sound".[3] The Penguin editors furthermore cite Clarence Shaw's performance on "New York Sketchbook" as "the best trumpet heard on a Mingus album for some time before or since".[3]
Track listing
All titles by Charles Mingus, except where noted.
- "Scenes in the City" (Music: Mingus; Narrative: Elder, Hughes) – 11:55
- "Nouroog" – 4:52
- "New York Sketchbook" – 8:55
- "Duke's Choice" – 6:27
- "Slippers" – 3:29
- "Woody 'n' You" (Gillespie) – 8:44
- Mistitled "Wouldn't You" on earlier releases
- "Bounce" (Parker) – 9:22
- "Slippers (Alternate Take)" – 3:50
Personnel
- Charles Mingus – bass
- Jimmy Knepper – trombone
- Shafi Hadi – tenor and alto saxophone
- Bill Hardman – trumpet (on "Nouroog")
- Clarence Shaw – trumpet (except on "Nouroog")
- Dannie Richmond – drums
- Horace Parlan – piano (on "Nouroog", "Duke's Choice", "Slippers"; left hand during final solo on "New York Sketchbook")
- Bob Hammer – piano (on remaining tracks)
- Mel Stewart – voice (narration on "Scenes in the City")
References
- 1 2 3 Yanow, Scott (2011). "A Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry - Charles Mingus | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
- 1 2 Heckman, Don (2001-02-19). "A More Complete Introduction to Mingus". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
- 1 2 3 Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2006) [1992]. The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (8th ed.). New York: Penguin. p. 907. ISBN 0-14-102327-9.
- ↑ Hentoff, Nat (1957). A Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry (CD booklet). Charles Mingus. Bethlehem Records/Shout! Factory. pp. 3–6. DK 37964.
- ↑ The liner notes credit "Lonnie Elders"; other sources credit "Lonne Elder III."
- ↑ Santoro, Gene (2000). Myself when I Am Real. New York: Oxford University Press US. p. 413. ISBN 0-19-514711-1.
- ↑ Mathieson, Kenny (1999). Giant Steps. Canongate US. p. 217. ISBN 0-86241-859-3.
- ↑ Nat Hentoff identifies "Nouroog" as the precursor to "I X Love". Hentoff, Nat (1963). Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus (CD booklet). Charles Mingus. Impulse! Records. pp. 2–10. IMPD-170.
- ↑ Priestley, Brian (1998). "Charles Mingus". Mingus Ah Um (CD booklet). Charles Mingus. Sony Music. pp. 17–20. CK 65512.
- ↑ Jenkins, Todd S. (2006). I Know what I Know: The Music of Charles Mingus. Westport, CT: Praeger. p. 55.