Also a Mingus fan and fellow bassist
Added 4/18/2007
High points and low points often in the same song. Overall a pretty forgetable performance. I found Jack Walrath's (trumpet) performance pretty inspiring, but George Adams (sax) came off as a way over the top and annoying. I think I'll go listen to Mingus Ah Um right now to wash the taste out of my mouth.
0 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Free jazz?
Added 6/20/2006
Sorry to disgree withmost reviews here. I'm a big fan of jazz and Mingus was one of the true genius. Albums like "Blues and roots" and "Mingus Ah uhm" are must-have in any jazz collection.
Well, the idea of seeing Charles Mingus in concert was very exciting. So I get this DVD. Unfortunatelly he's totally off in this live performance.
The entire cocnert has a free-jazz flavor... don't get me wrong, I like free jazz but this is not the best genre to Mingus. Trumpet, saxo and piano solo sections are really weird, lots of textures, chromaticism, volume variation... and he's just fingering his bass without emotion, like he was bored and tired (in fact, he looks tired and bored)You know, it's very hard to give Mingus a bad review.
To illustrate better what I'm trying to say listen to "Take the A train" The rythm section was entering to the song head again and, all of a sudden, Mingus start soloing in a bad attemp to attract attention. The solo was terrible, dull and uninspired.
The video quality is not the best and the DTS track is so so, nothing espectacular. The performance is not the best but is valuable as a documental of a jazz genius performing live.
2 out of 9 people found this helpful.
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Caveat Emptor
Added 2/6/2006
An excellent concert based on the Mingus Changes Band with Don Pullen and George Adams. Unfortunately the DVD is not up to the task. Two different copies of the DVD will not play the last two tracks, Good By Pork Pie Hat and Take the A Train. Both DVDs were tried on a Pioneer, Sony and Toshiba DVD player with no luck. Proceed with caution.
1 out of 4 people found this helpful.
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mingus in the ascendency
Added 8/31/2005
This is a great DVD. It goes without saying that the band and material are fantastic -this was Mr Mingus's second greatest small group (after the one with Mr Dolphy in early 60's) touring his last great album. Don Pullen can play anything and find the brilliant corners, Jon Faddis was and is an original voice on trumpet and George Adams can sing, blow, gurgle and croon with the best of them. The rhythm section of Mr Mingus and Dannie Richmond is beyond telepathic - funky too. Opener 'Devil Woman' suffers a bit from undermiking and Mr Adams isnt quite on the stomping form he was on the album version, but by the second tune (incorrectly named, it's actually 'Remember Rockafeller At Attica') the joint is steaming. Personal favorite has got to be the demonically pretty 'Sue's Changes' where each member of the band takes an extended solo, and they all sound so turned on by each other they play out of their skins. If you're not on the floor by the middle of it, either cutting a rug or in devotional worship, then there's something wrong with the music-receiving section of yr brain. Forget catagories like avant-garde or even jazz -this is music.
7 out of 8 people found this helpful.
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Changes Group Live
Added 11/20/2004
This fantastic DVD supplements the great Changes recordings on Atlantic. The centerpiece performance here is an extended version of the Mingus composition Sue's Changes, which perhaps tops in excitement the recorded version on Changes One. The Adams/Pullen/Walrath Quintet is also featured on Free Cell Block F, and on the Devil Blues. (For Harry Carney is unfortunately not included in this DVD.) The concert closes with two performances adding and featuring guest artists Gerry Mulligan and Benny Bailey, performing a superb Goodbye Pork Pie Hat and Take the A Train. The sound quality of the recording is quite good--Mingus is clear and in great form at all times (this is definitely before his playing declined with illness)--with the exception that George Adams is a bit undermiked. There are many great images in this DVD. Anyone appreciative of the last great Mingus group will love this DVD.
20 out of 20 people found this helpful.
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