bluesForBartok Posted January 8, 2004 Report Posted January 8, 2004 (edited) I ordered this from amazon and I am very excited to hear it. Is it as great as everyone says? Would like to hear comments / opinions from those who've spent time with this recording. Edited January 8, 2004 by bluesForBartok Quote
Stefan Wood Posted January 8, 2004 Report Posted January 8, 2004 It's been a while since I heard it, but I know it is very good. The killer though is the double lp, Music Written for Monterey, a separate session, which is KILLER! Quote
bertrand Posted January 8, 2004 Report Posted January 8, 2004 Is this a recent CD reissue? What label? This was out on Fantasy a long time ago, but then was deleted. Bertrand. Quote
kh1958 Posted January 8, 2004 Report Posted January 8, 2004 It'a a wonderful recording. Charles McPherson is the most prominent soloist and he plays brilliantly. The concert starts with an exquisite Duke Ellington melody, a series of beautiful ballads, climaxed by a stirring Take the A Train, performed by a small group (Mingus, Richmond, Jaki Byard, John Handy, Charles McPherson, and Lonnie Hillyer). Then there's an extended, slow and gorgeous version of Orange Was the Color of Her Dress, Then Blue Silk, again a small group version. Finally, there's a tremendously exciting large group version of Meditations on Integration, with Buddy Collette filling the role of Eric Dolphy, featuring very exciting soloing by McPherson, and a wild collective improvisation by the group at the climax. Quote
Claude Posted January 8, 2004 Report Posted January 8, 2004 I think it is still available in Japan. One of the greatest Mingus concerts, with the best version of "Meditations On Integration" and a wonderful Ellington medley. The sound is not very good though. Music written for Monterey, 1965 is also one of my favourites, a very spontaneus and loose concert. Lonnie Hillyer smokes. Quote
brownie Posted January 9, 2004 Report Posted January 9, 2004 The Monterey Concert is typical Mingus. A bit disorganised, often passionate and always exciting. Which is why he is loved by so many jazz fans. The Monterey concert was one of Mingus' best. This was part of the albums Charles Mingus issued on his own Mingus label. I have enjoyed those albums since they came out. You're in for a treat! Quote
king ubu Posted January 9, 2004 Report Posted January 9, 2004 A treat indeed! I found a quite good copy of the Jazzworkshop 2LP set some years ago. Great music! Lesser so with sound quality, but it's good enough to thoroughly enjoy what there is to enjoy - and there's quite some! "Meditations" is one of favorite pieces of "Mingusiana". ubu Quote
Tom Storer Posted January 9, 2004 Report Posted January 9, 2004 As I recall--I have it on vinyl but haven't had a turntable in years--there's also at least one beautiful Mingus solo performance. Quote
king ubu Posted January 9, 2004 Report Posted January 9, 2004 As I recall--I have it on vinyl but haven't had a turntable in years--there's also at least one beautiful Mingus solo performance. As I remember Mingus does one of the Ellington numbers solo. ubu Quote
brownie Posted January 9, 2004 Report Posted January 9, 2004 Mingus solos on bass on 'I've Got It Bad', later on 'Sophisticated Lady'. The tracks sequence on the Mingus JSW 001/002 album is: record 1A, - I've Got It Bad, - In a Sentimental Mood, - All Too Soon - Mood Indigo - Sophisticated Lady, - A Train record 2A, - A Train (part II) - Orange Was the Color of Her Dress Then Blue Silk record 2B, - Orange Was... (part II) - Meditations on Integration record 1B, - Meditations on Integration (part II) I understand Mingus and engineer Bob Simpson had trouble with the concert tape. Sound on the original Mingus records is somehow muddy. There is a 'Balanced Stereo' indication at the bottom of the label of the four sides. Wonder if the reissues just copied the Mingus LPs. Or did they improve on the tapes if they were able to get at those? Quote
bluesForBartok Posted January 9, 2004 Author Report Posted January 9, 2004 Thanks for all the great feedback! Can't wait to check it out. Quote
jazzbo Posted January 9, 2004 Report Posted January 9, 2004 The Japanese cd has K2 sound, and it's not fantastic, but I think they improved on the vinyl; it's not bad. . . . Quote
jazz1 Posted January 9, 2004 Report Posted January 9, 2004 This is THE killer Mingus albulm reissued as a double cd, remastered 24 bits sounds great The great concert of Charles Mingus released 08/2003 Price 17.10 Euros . A.t.f.w 2. Presentation of musicians 3. So long Eric 4. Orange was the color of her dress then blue silk 5. Fables of Faubus Volume 2 1. Sophisticated lady 2. Parkeriana 3. Mediations on integration Here is the link to get it, just copy and paste http://www.fnac.com/Shelf/article.asp?No=1...df-58133e5b2166 Quote
brownie Posted January 9, 2004 Report Posted January 9, 2004 This is THE killer Mingus albulm reissued as a double cd, remastered 24 bits sounds great The great concert of Charles Mingus released 08/2003 Price 17.10 Euros . A.t.f.w 2. Presentation of musicians 3. So long Eric 4. Orange was the color of her dress then blue silk 5. Fables of Faubus Volume 2 1. Sophisticated lady 2. Parkeriana 3. Mediations on integration Here is the link to get it, just copy and paste http://www.fnac.com/Shelf/article.asp?No=1...df-58133e5b2166 Jazz1, THAT concert has already been discussed here http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php...=mingus+concert Yes, another Mingus concert that killed! Quote
bertrand Posted January 9, 2004 Report Posted January 9, 2004 Brownie, Were you at that concert? Did Johnny Coles really collapse onstage after 'So Long Eric'? Bertrand. Quote
king ubu Posted January 9, 2004 Report Posted January 9, 2004 bertrand: the Great Concert has the April 19 Theatre des Champs Elysees concert. Coles collapsed at the April 17 Salle Wagram concert (released on the Revenge! 2CD set), as far as I know - he's present on one track there. See more on Mingus' 1964 Europe tour here: http://webusers.siba.fi/~eonttone/mingus/1964.html ubu Quote
AmirBagachelles Posted January 9, 2004 Report Posted January 9, 2004 I have had the Monterey disc listed for sale for about a week, no takers here on the forum. It is a must hear and a good collectible, but the recording quality is very weak, the bass drum pretty much clips throughout, and the 20-bit version is no better than the 16-bit. I have both versions, I love this music, but the sound quality is a small tragedy. For the 64 live Mingus, I think the Enja discs and the Prestige LP / Musidisc CDs from Paris in April are the ones to get. Quote
brownie Posted January 10, 2004 Report Posted January 10, 2004 (edited) Brownie, Were you at that concert? Did Johnny Coles really collapse onstage after 'So Long Eric'? Bertrand. Bertrand, I was at that concert. The Coles collapse occured at the start of the first Mingus concert at the Salle Wagram. From where I was seated did not notice that there was a problem with Coles when it actually happened. I caught up on the confusion shortly after when Coles was taken offstage and the last thing I saw of him at that concert was when he was carried out of the theater on a stretcher. When Mingus and the rest of his band appeared for the other concerts at the Theatre des Chanps-Elysees, there was an empty chair on stage to mark Johnny Coles' absence. Edited January 10, 2004 by brownie Quote
Claude Posted January 10, 2004 Report Posted January 10, 2004 the bass drum pretty much clips throughout Isn't that Mingus' sandal tapping the rhythm? Quote
king ubu Posted January 10, 2004 Report Posted January 10, 2004 the bass drum pretty much clips throughout Isn't that Mingus' sandal tapping the rhythm? "The tapping sound later on in 'A Train' was the stamping of my foot and the slap of my sandals. I wear sandals. I tapped my toes and the heel would follow down later. There was no distortion on the concert. The sound on the record is the exact sound of my flapping sandals at the live concert." (from Mingus' liner on JWS 001/002) Funny - mingusian (fancy that as similar to "rabulistic") - liners, by the way! I quote another passage: "A weird thing happened during 'A Train.' I had a pain my chest and the fear of the possibility of my death surged through me. And I overcame it. I was looking at the sky, and I said, 'Well, here I come, baby. Lord, I guess this is it. So I'm just gonna play better 'cause I want to sound good when I die.' In fact, I did have a palpitation, a funny throb. I had been so tired and overworked and I had a funny feeling as I looked up to the sky. That's the way it was in 'A Train' at this point and the musical pulse is unbelievable. So just go ahead and check it out." On the Ellington medley again: I've Got It Bad - features Mingus Sentimental Mood - no one featured All Too Soon - Byard Mood Indigo - Hillyer, supported by McPherson Sophisticade Lady - Mingus A Train - McPherson, Hillyer, Handy, Richmond ubu Quote
AmirBagachelles Posted January 10, 2004 Report Posted January 10, 2004 I was wrong. It's not just the low-end of the recording. There are many shattered moments where the horns clip out at the end. There is rampant distortion on these tracks, liner notes and sandals notwithstanding. Trust me, this sounds very self-produced for its time. I think if it weren't, every jazz one might know and have this date. Quote
AmirBagachelles Posted January 11, 2004 Report Posted January 11, 2004 btw - I believe Jazz Record Ctr in NYC still has sealed vinyl 1980s reissues of Music Recorded for Monterey, about $20 I think. You may need to specify that you want a new copy, they are not normally displayed, the used copies are. I am listening to the Enjas this evening, they are pretty satisfying sonically but somewhat hissy and flat (no dropouts though). The best sounding disc from this tour (I've been listening to many of them of them today) is the Jazz Workshop/Fantasy (OJC) Town Hall Concert 4-4-64. Wow, a major treat after hearing so many towering live performances that were not well captured to tape. The music on this disc is quite beautiful, lots of Mingus' bowing on Pray With Eric. The show sounds close-miked, you can hear a flea fart in the quiet passages. It is no small thrill to believe there may be more tapes of this band at this level of sound quality. Quote
jazzbo Posted January 11, 2004 Report Posted January 11, 2004 (edited) I don't care so much about sound quality with music like this. The Japanese cd I have of Monterey sounds better than a lot of cds I listen to with glee. I think my favorites of this 1964 tour may be the Oslo and the Holland performances. . . not sure why, because all the performances I've found have really been AMAZING. Edited January 11, 2004 by jazzbo Quote
Claude Posted January 11, 2004 Report Posted January 11, 2004 I think my favorites of this 1964 tour may be the Oslo and the Holland performances An Oslo concert was recorded on TV in optimal B&W quality (studio performance)and has been made available on video tapes (official or bootleg, I don't know). The "Triumph of the Underdog" DVD has many short concert movie clips. It would be great to see them complete. Quote
jazzbo Posted January 11, 2004 Report Posted January 11, 2004 Yes, the Oslo video is a great one. The audio has been on cd as well. Quote
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