Before he became known as the most famous/notorious bassist/composer in jazz, Charles Mingus was a member of the fledgling Debut catalogue, which specialized in the “new thing” of adventurous bop. One of Mingus’ discoveries was Bud Powell-influenced piano man John Dennis, who’s 1955 debut is included and featured here.
Teamed with Dennis and Mingus is the forward looking drummer Max Roach, and the March session has vintage bop pieces like “Ensenada”, a nice Latin lover in “Mahajo” and a tribally swinging “Cherokee”, with Mingus’ fingers doing wonders. . He goes solo on a few tracks, like the bluesy “Odyssey” and a romantic “Chartreuse” while showing elliptical harmonies on “Variegations”. Mingus’ fingers do wonders with Roach on the tribal “Sr Thad Jones, another Mingus discovery, joins in to create a quartet for a handful of tunes. He’s muted on a misty “I Can’t Get Started” and “Get Out of Town”, with Mingus throbbing like a jogger’s pulse her and as they bop into the night on “More of The Same”. Bop’s next step.
https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/john-dennis-albums/54041-the-debut-sessions.html