Mingus at Monterey

by Charles Mingus

Mingus at Monterey cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: April 1965
  • Label: Jazz Workshop
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 45:46
  • Community rating: 4.13/5 from 3 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Self-released through his own mail-order label, this double album documents a wildly ambitious, triumphant performance at the 1964 Monterey Jazz Festival. The bassist expanded his working sextet into a massive 12-piece ensemble to debut sprawling, intensely complex new arrangements, notably a radical re-orchestration of Duke Ellington repertoire. It stands as a pinnacle achievement of his career, seamlessly blending chaotic collective improvisation with rigorous, deeply swinging compositional structure.

Genres

Descriptors: Live, acoustic, improvisation, instrumental

Tracklist

  1. II B.S. - Edit (4:48)
  2. I X Love - Long Version (7:41)
  3. Celia (6:14)
  4. Mood Indigo (4:45)
  5. Better Get Hit In Yo' Soul - Long Version (6:30)
  6. Theme For Lester Young (5:51)
  7. Hora Decubitus (4:43)
  8. Freedom (5:10)

Credits

  • Charles Mingus - primary artist, bass, edited by, sleeve notes, written-by
  • Charles McPherson - alto saxophone
  • Buddy Collette - alto saxophone, flute, piccolo flute
  • Jack Nimitz - baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
  • Dannie Richmond - drums
  • Bob Simpson - edited by
  • Jaki Byard - piano
  • John Handy - tenor saxophone

More from Charles Mingus: full discography