Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um

The complete album - limited edition pressing on 180g crystal clear vinyl. The Penguin Guide to Jazz called 'Mingus Ah Um' an extended tribute to ancestors and awarded it with one of their rarely given Crown accreditations. It is, in fact, one of Mingus' most personal albums, and produced a series of songs that have become standards. 'Better Git It in Your Soul'is inspired by gospel singing and preaching of the sort that Mingus would have heard as a child growing up in Watts, while 'Goodbye Pork Pie Hat' is a reference to saxophonist Lester Young who had died shortly before the album was recorded.

First let's put your minds at ease about that weird title: it's a corruption of an imaginary Latin declension (mingus-minga-mingum). Don't ask why. It seems to me that Mingus has now completely found himself, found a personal and vital direction. This is a consistently exciting and stimulating set. - ***** Leonard Feather, DownBeat