Cornell 1964

The band that Charles Mingus, the doyen of jazz's mercurial polymaths, pulled together for his early-1964 European tour was phenomenal—and here they are playing 130 minutes worth of live music no one’s ever heard. Pianist Jaki Byard, alto saxophonist/flutist/bass clarinetist Eric Dolphy, tenor saxophonist Clifford Jordan, trumpeter Johnny Coles, and longtime drummer Dannie Richmond came together for the Mingus tour knowing that Dolphy would be staying in Europe after their gigs—he died tragically just 12 weeks after this gig. And Coles would come perilously close to death himself with a stomach ulcer within a month of the band’s Cornell date, forcing him off the tour. So the music here is particularly special and musically resplendent. There is considerable overlap with the The Great Concert of Charles Mingus, but that 2-CD set is sans the ailing Coles, who fattens the sound here: playing beautifully as "Johnny O'Coles" on the unlikely "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling." But Eric Dolphy, his every breath is poetry: from his palpitating bass clarinet on the pugnacious "Fables of Faubus" to the tipsy, whirling flute he plays on "Jitterbug Waltz," a tune he loved playing. The sound here is less crisp than The Great Concert, thick in the middle and ill-defined when it comes to Richmond's drums, leaving the group's interplay like an ear-magnet. "Take the 'A' Train" pays soulful, blossoming homage to Billy Strayhorn even as you can hear the band tightening their grip collectively, learning to fly as a unit. Unheard music of this caliber demands a listen, and here the rewards are bountiful. --Andrew Bartlett Amazon.com

Charles Mingus Cornell 1964

Clifford Jordan, Eric Dolphy, Johnny Coles, Jaki Byard, and of course, the powerhouse team of Mingus and Richmond. In short, this was one of the great Mingus bands. It was also sadly, short-lived with the departure of Eric Dolphy, who died not long after, then the hospitalization of the Johnny Coles (shamelessly under-recorded) and not long after, the departure of Clifford Jordan.
While this is an outstanding two disc set, I still prefer the Legendary Paris Concerts recorded just one month later.
Having said that, I should add that this is an outstanding album, capturing one of the best bands Mingus ever put together.
To those who don't know of Mingus, this record is a good starting point. September 1, 2008

Excellent musicianship, fun and playfull

OMG, this is wonderful music. Jackie Byard's piano solos are worth the price in gold. He includes so many nuances, tidbits of memories, and incorporates the whole Americana. Mr. Mingus's bass is thumping and pushing the musicians far beyond what I have heard in the past. How about Jonny Coles? What can I say, his tone is clear and he puts in 110%. Eric Dolphy's solos are great, and even Danny Richmond gets some too! All this, plus it swings! This is 5 star all the way! A welcome addition to my collection. July 29, 2008

Mingus Live at Cornell - 1964

When I found this album and listened to it for the first time, I felt I had discovered something wonderful and unique. Here is an album that has all the positives and negatives of a live end-to-end recording. Sure, it has rough patches along with some sound and recording issues, but it doesn't matter.

I had the sense of being right there with Mingus and his group as they played / played off each other and grooved in a number of wild and Mingus-like ways. Sounds / rhythms / riffs / grooves / puns and explorations are all to be found on this wonderful album. Thank God this recording was found (even if posthumously). It is as if Mingus left us all an inheritance - his own gift to the rest of us as reminder of his wonderful sound and the incredible music he made happen several decades ago...
July 14, 2008

A prime example of the Mingus band in action.

The discovery of previously unissued material by major artists does not always deliver on its apparent promise, but this heretofore unknown date is not only of historic significance, but is also a prime example of the Mingus band in action.
It was recorded at Cornell University in March, shortly before the European tour of 1964, and features a line-up of Mingus's ever-changing Jazz Workshop that has not been preserved in studio recordings.
The two-disc set not only adds a new slice of high-quality music to the Mingus catalogue, but also extends the available material from saxophonist Eric Dolphy, who is prominently featured here (three months before his death in Berlin) alongside Clifford Jordan on tenor saxophone, Johnny Coles on trumpet, pianist Jaki Byard, Dannie Richmond on drums, and the magisterial Mingus on bass.
They make amazing music: the incredible dynamism of the compositions is captured perfectly by an ensemble that manages to be wild and controlled at the same time.
Even more than his bass-playing, it's this prodigious bandleading feat - which musicians today still aspire to - that lies at the heart of Mingus' genius and continued relevance.
This two-disc package is a perfect chance to check out the magic - live and undiluted.
Essential listening for Mingus fans, and equally recommended for anyone with an interest in 1960s jazz. July 10, 2008

A few short notes...

There's no point in reflecting most of the sentiments already made by the other reviewers about this awesome performance, so I will stick to making a few short points and confirmations.

1.) This is indeed a very joyous Mingus during this concert. Laughing and lightheartedness is abound throughout the concert. These guys and the audience are having a blast creating and listening to some of the best music on the planet.

2.) Dolphy doesn't solo in So Long Eric! I'm not sure how common or uncommon this is as I haven't heard all the performances of this band (yet), but I do know on the wonderful Jazz Icons DVD of this lineup, Eric has his time in every performance of the song. Perhaps this is how Mingus originally envisioned the song? I mean, the song is a goodbye to Mr. Dolphy, and saying goodbye to yourself doesn't really make sense. Who knows? Because of his prominence and the fact that this CD is even listed as the Charles Mingus Sextet WITH ERIC DOLPHY, I doubt his solo would've been edited out. I sincerely hope not. Who would want an incomplete song and performance?

3.) Fables of Faubus is worth the purchase price ALONE. Amazing amazing amazing incredible amazing. Seriously. I don't even know what else to say about it.

4.) Unfortunately, Meditations suffers from some sonic inferiority. You have a lot of phasing and warping in the sound throughout the entire piece, mostly in the cymbals. But all in all, it's not too big of a deal. It's odd that only Meditations suffers this though? There isn't a hint of it in the tracks immediately before or after. The problem magically starts when Meditations starts, and ends when Meditations ends. *Shrug* What are ya gonna do?

Buy this. May 30, 2008

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