Talk about Jazz For a Tuesday. We should be so lucky each week.
The good people at Aquarium Drunkard have posted a real gift for jazzheads today. Two Hours(!) of treasure-trove footage from Charles Mingus’ 1964 Tour of Europe. A tour that has since become absolutely legendary, in part to the story, but mainly to the talent: Eric Dolphy, Clifford Jordan, Jaki Byard, Dannie Richmond, and for a time, Johnny Coles. This is definitive Mingus brilliance, live in beautiful black & white, surrounded by players who are all legends in their own right. Do yourself a favor, when you get some time, dim the lights and just watch. It’s not hyperbole. This is one of the greatest jazz bands of all-time, live in action.
https://youtu.be/7LxLpmmaT78
Luckily, Mingus’ work on tour that year has been well documented on record. There are a number of different releases widely available that offer a glimpse of the unit’s output that year. If you’re interested in hearing more, look for these albums – KTRU JAZZ Recommended:
