Charles Mingus: Pithecanthropus Erectus (remastered) (180g) (Limited-Edition) (+1 Bonustrack) auf LP

+ Jackie McLean, J.R. Monterose, Mal Waldron, Willie Jones
* DMM - Direct Metal Mastering

Product Information

Pithecanthropus Erectus was Mingus’ breakthrough as a leader, the album where he established himself as a composer of boundless imagination and a fresh new voice that, despite his ambitiously modern concepts, was firmly grounded in jazz tradition. With this album he began seeking new ways to increase the evocative power of the art form and challenge his musicians (this release includes Jackie McLean on alto sax and Mal Waldron on piano) to break preexisting conventions.

He once declared to Nat Hentoff: »I am trying to play the truth of what I am. The reason it’s difficult is because I’m changing all the time.« The tune that gave the album its name is one of Mingus’ true masterpieces: a four-movement tone poem depicting man’s evolution from pride and accomplishment to hubris and slavery, and finally to ultimate destruction. Mingus’ humorous side surfaces on »A Foggy Day«, which contains numerous sound effects (all made with actual instruments) producing a highly visual portrait. This was the first album where Mingus tailored his arrangements to the personalities of his musicians, teaching the pieces by ear instead of writing everything out.