Blues & Roots
From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
| Blues & Roots | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 1960[1] | |||
| Recorded | February 4, 1959 | |||
| Studio | Atlantic Studios, New York City | |||
| Genre | Hard bop | |||
| Length | 38:49 | |||
| Label | Atlantic SD 1305 | |||
| Producer | Nesuhi Ertegun | |||
| Charles Mingus chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  [2] |
| DownBeat |  |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings |  [3] |
| Q Magazine | |
Blues & Roots is an album by Charles Mingus, recorded in 1959 and released on the Atlantic label in 1960. It has been reissued on CD by both Atlantic and Rhino.
Inspiration[edit]
Mingus explained the origins of this record in the album's liner notes:[4]
This record is unusual— it presents only one part of my musical world, the blues. A year ago, Nesuhi Ertegün suggested that I record an entire blues album in the style of "Haitian Fight Song" (in Atlantic LP 1260), because some people, particularly critics, were saying I didn't swing enough. He wanted to give them a barrage of soul music: churchy, blues, swinging, earthy. I thought it over. I was born swinging and clapped my hands in church as a little boy, but I've grown up and I like to do things other than just swing. But blues can do more than just swing. So I agreed.
— Charles Mingus
Reception[edit]
- Q Magazine (7/93, p. 110) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...at his best he could drive his fellow musicians onwards and upwards with big bass playing and hoarse exhortations. Blues & Roots contains six servings of this brilliance..."
- DownBeat (1960) - 4 Stars - Very Good - "...vital and important music...[Mingus] is outstanding in his solo work...this is something worth careful and thorough listening..."
Track listing[edit]
- "Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting" – 5:39
- "Cryin' Blues" – 4:58
- "Moanin'" – 8:01
- "Tensions" – 6:27
- "My Jelly Roll Soul" – 6:47
- "E's Flat Ah's Flat Too" – 6:37
The 1998 Rhino CD reissue included these additional tracks:
- "Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting" – 6:59 – alternate take
- "Tensions" – 5:18 – alternate take
- "My Jelly Roll Soul" – 11:25 – alternate take
- "E's Flat Ah's Flat Too" – 6:47 – alternate take
All tracks composed by Charles Mingus. Recorded February 4, 1959, at Atlantic Studios in New York City.
Personnel[edit]
- Charles Mingus – bass
- John Handy – alto saxophone
- Jackie McLean – alto saxophone
- Booker Ervin – tenor saxophone
- Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone
- Jimmy Knepper – trombone
- Willie Dennis – trombone
- Dannie Richmond – drums
- Horace Parlan – piano, except for on "E's Flat Ah's Flat Too"
- Mal Waldron – piano on "E's Flat Ah's Flat Too"
- Nesuhi Ertegun – producer
- Tom Dowd – recording engineer
References[edit]
- ^ "Reviews and Ratings of New Albums - Billboard Magazine". 21 March 1960. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ Huey, Steve (2011). "Blues & Roots - Charles Mingus | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
- ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1002. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
- ^ "Blues & Roots". aln2.albumlinernotes. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
Sources[edit]
- Sleeve notes to Atlantic Records CD reissue of Blues & Roots (Atlantic SD-1305-2)
