Charles Mingus

Of the many bands that Charles Mingus led during his career, none matched his formidable sextet of 1964, which he took to Europe in the spring of that year. Eric Dolphy (alto sax, bass clarinet, and flute), tenor saxophonist Clifford Jordan, pianist Jaki Byard, trumpeter Johnny Coles, and Dannie Richmond responded to their demanding leader and his challenging compositions, which often were adjusted from one show to the next. This DVD includes three separate black-and-white television broadcasts recorded over an eight-day period. The Oslo concert is the high point, beginning with the opener "So Long Eric." Jordan and Dolphy fuel Coles' brilliant solo with wild dissonant exchanges. An abbreviated "Parkeriana" is suddenly abandoned as Mingus launches a feverish rendition of "Take the 'A' Train," with Dolphy (on bass clarinet) and Byard engaging in a continuous battle to outdo one another with their chance-taking solos. A session conducted the following day in an empty Swedish concert hall consists of both rehearsals and complete performances of "So Long Eric" and Mingus' moving "Meditations on Integration." Even without the presence of an audience, the message of this powerful work -- musically implying the history of the American Negro from the squalid, frightening overseas journeys on slave ships to the then-current struggle for civil rights -- needs no lyrics to convey terror, hope, anger, and other emotions, leaving a lasting impression on the viewer. The remaining segment consists of complete performances videotaped in a small Belgium studio, though Coles is absent, having collapsed on-stage two days earlier after suffering from a perforated ulcer. In the meantime, Mingus rearranged the repertoire, distributing the trumpeters' parts among the remaining musicians. "Meditations on Integration" is the centerpiece of this broadcast, particularly Dolphy's haunting flute and vocal-like bass clarinet. A number of different LPs and CDs recorded during Mingus' 1964 European tour have been duly issued over the years. But adding the visual component of seeing the men in action and reacting to one another makes it easier to appreciate the amazing chemistry within this group and the bassist as one of the most inventive composers and arrangers of the time. The camera work and editing is excellent, while the audio and video of the various sources has stood the ravages of time very well. Rob Bowman's detailed liner notes and the many vintage photographs add to the value of this DVD, which should be part of any serious Mingus fan's music library. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide