Blues & Roots

Infobox Album |
Name = Blues & Roots
Type = Album
Artist = Charles Mingus


Released = 1959
Recorded = February 4, 1959
Genre = Avant-garde jazz
Post-bop
Length = 38:49
Label = Atlantic Records
Producer = Nesuhi Ertegün
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5wf8zfs7ehpk link]
Last album = "Mingus in Wonderland" (1959)
This album = "Blues & Roots" (1959)
Next album = "Mingus Ah Um" (1959)

"Blues & Roots" is an album by Charles Mingus, recorded and released in 1959. It has been reissued twice as a CD, first by Atlantic Records, and then again by Rhino Entertainment in 1998.

Mingus explained the birth of this record in the album's liner notes::"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."

Reception

*"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..."

*"Down Beat" (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

# "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 takeAll tracks composed by Charles Mingus. Recorded February 4, 1959 at Atlantic Studios in New York City.

Personnel

* Charles Mingus – bass
* John Handy – alto sax
* Jackie McLean – alto sax
* Booker Ervin – tenor sax
* Pepper Adams – baritone sax
* Jimmy Knepper – trombone
* Willie Dennis – trombone
* Dannie Richmond – drums
* Horace Parlan – piano, except for "E's Flat Ah's Flat Too"
* Mal Waldron – piano on "E's Flat Ah's Flat Too"
* Nesuhi Ertegün – producer
* Tom Dowd – recording engineer

ources

*Sleeve notes to Atlantic Records CD reissue of "Blues & Roots" (Atlantic SD-1305-2)