Track Listing

1. Song with Orange
2. Mom
3. Chill of Death
4. Paris in Blue
5. Tensions
6. Orange Is the Color of Her Dress
7. Cell Block F 'Tis Nazi USA
8. Todo Modo
9. Wednesday Prayer Meeting
10. Pedal Point Blues

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #237810 in Music
• Released on: 2005-06-07
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Amazon.com
The Mingus Big Band, in it’s various forms, has continued to keep the music of Charles Mingus throbbingly, if not bitingly, alive. I Am Three, issued on the new label of his widow Sue Mingus, departs from past recordings. This time around the 14-man group shares the load with the unconventional 10-man Mingus Orchestra and the Mingus Dynasty septet. You need a personnel chart to keep all the players straight. They include such mainstays as trumpeters Jack Walrath and Randy Brecker, saxophonist Craig Handy and trombonist Ku-umba Frank Lacy, along with such relative newcomers as pianist Orrin Evans, trumpeter Kenny Rampton and saxophonist Miguel Zenon. For all their soloing prowess, their most notable achievement is capturing Mingus' riff-happy spirit, love of bold, off center arrangements and lyrical interplay between darkness and light. The highlights include "Todo Modo," a characteristically episodic tune written for an Italian film. "Tensions" is another rarity on which Russian bassist Boris Kozlov proves a worthy Mingus surrogate playing the legend's actual instrument. "Pedal Point Blues,' features the great baritone saxophonist Ronnie Cuber, and the exuberant, always enriching "Song with Orange." --Lloyd Sachs

Customer Reviews

Listening to 'Cell Block F' right now and..........
..this has GOT to be the best collection recording of Mingus since his demise.The 'Dynasty Band', 'The Big Band',even tho we've been there, still send out the vibes that Charles has/had so well instilled in our souls years ago!Bettah git it!! TRUE AMERICAN music!!!!

A wonderful addition to my collection.
I have many Mingus CDs, I am a very big fan. This just adds to that collection of wonderful music.