Worthwhile Mingus interpretations by others

[Larry Kart]

I think I recall but can't find a thread that spoke of the alleged dearth of worthwhile interpretations of Mingus' music by others. Let me recommend then"Mingus!" (jazzwerkstatt 105), recorded in 2010, by Gebhard Ullmann's Ta Lam 11 -- an ensemble of ten reed players and an accordianist (judging by their names, all of the players, and Ullmann, seem to be German).  It's superb IMO, though it may be hard to find.

[Chuck Nessa]

Got a copy a few years back from Ullmann. I see it is on Bandcamp

 

Edited September 4, 2022 by Chuck Nessa

[jlhoots]

I have that too - must get it out & play it again.

[Larry Kart]

I got mine from Ullmann too, at Elastic Arts. IIRC, Ullman played well that night (was he the only horn?), but I really like how he handles this album's  deeply voiced multi-reed ensemble. Maybe Steve Swell was there?

[Joe]

Has its moments and its misses as well (IMO). But it serves to highlight what makes Mingus' approach to bandleading unique.

 

[relyles]

Another different spin on Mingus with Silke Eberhard (saxophone), Nikolaus Neuser (trumpet) and Christian Marien (drums).

[felser]

"Meditations on Integration" by James Newton is spectacular.  And of course a lot of the Danny Richmond and the Mingus Dynasty albums are excellent.

[Chuck Nessa]

3 hours ago, Larry Kart said:

I got mine from Ullmann too, at Elastic Arts. IIRC, Ullman played well that night (was he the only horn?), but I really like how he handles this album's  deeply voiced multi-reed ensemble. Maybe Steve Swell was there?

Steve Swell was there the 3 times I saw Ullmann. I think they were at our house one night.

[jlhoots]

4 hours ago, relyles said:

Another different spin on Mingus with Silke Eberhard (saxophone), Nikolaus Neuser (trumpet) and Christian Marien (drums).

[Gheorghe]

The Woody Herman 1979 interpretation of "Better Git it in ya soul" is fine. It´s on that Concord album with guest stars Dizzy, Woody Shaw, Stan Getz..... 1979

[Jim Duckworth]

I was enjoying Eric Dolphy Out There last week and loved his version of Eclipse.  

[Ken Dryden]

Jon Jang did a powerful version of “Meditations on Integration” which is on this Soul Note CD.

Edited September 5, 2022 by Ken Dryden

[Д.Д.]

Steve Lacy / Eric Watson - "Spirit of Mingus" (Free Lance, 1992): https://www.discogs.com/release/1238246-Steve-Lacy-Eric-Watson-Spirit-Of-Mingus 

Good stuff. 

 

[Д.Д.]

Gavino Murgia Blast 4tet - "Blast" (Abeat, 2018) contains an energetic version of "Pithecanthropus Erectus".   

 

[mjzee]

I always liked this:

 

[T.D.]

 

[Teasing the Korean]

Don't forget Hal Wilner's Weird Nightmare album.  

 

[Joe]

On 9/5/2022 at 4:07 PM, Д.Д. said:

Steve Lacy / Eric Watson - "Spirit of Mingus" (Free Lance, 1992): https://www.discogs.com/release/1238246-Steve-Lacy-Eric-Watson-Spirit-Of-Mingus 

Good stuff. 

 

A good one, and undeservedly obscure!

 

[Guy Berger]

On 9/5/2022 at 10:35 AM, Ken Dryden said:

Jon Jang did a powerful version of “Meditations on Integration” which is on this Soul Note CD.

Yea! Love this one 

[Joe]

 

[Д.Д.]

And how about this solo viola version of Pithecanthropus Erectus by Paolo Botti:

  

[Д.Д.]

Nicolas Simion (with Ed Schuller and Patrice Heral) plays an excellent version of "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love":

 

Edited September 8, 2022 by Д.Д.

[Gheorghe]

On 8.9.2022 at 11:17 PM, Д.Д. said:

Nicolas Simion (with Ed Schuller and Patrice Heral) plays an excellent version of "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love":

 

Oh, I knew Nicolae Simion very well since he came to Austria (he changes his surname from the original Romanian "Nicolae" to "Nicolas" ) . We played some gigs together before he settled in Köln. 
I remember the first time I met him, it was a Jam Session I led at a club named "Tunnel" and didn´t know him. He had his tenor, came up on stage and wow !!!!! He spoke English and I thought he might be from the States, so much tenor he played and so damn good. Soon I would chase other, weaker musicians from stage to have only him with the trio and it was heaven on Earth. Well after someone told me he´s from RO I talked to him in his language and we played some gigs. Only the last time I missed it. It would have been a tribute to Monk and I was scheduled, but didn´t appear, it was "just one of those things.....", man he was pissed off and he was damn right. 

[Д.Д.]

Simion is a fantastic musician. Luckily, his music's been well-documented. His numerous albums can be bought from him directly via bandcamp: https://nicolassimion.bandcamp.com/ 

  

[Peter Friedman]