One of the most creative labels of the 1950s-60s was Candid Records, and they’ve reissued on vinyl some of their most provocative creations. Hang on tight!
Incarnations is a collection of tunes from Mingus’ 1960 recordings, with an impressive guest list that includes Eric Dolphy, Booker Ervin, Roy Eldridge, Charles McPherson, Tommy Flanagan, and of course Dannie Richmond. Most of the tunes are alternate takes not found on his albums from this period, but there is nothing here that isn’t less than stellar, with an almost classical feel given on “All The Things You Are” and a dark shadowed “Reincarnation Of A Love Bird”. Eldridge shines on “Body And Soul” and swings hard with his Harmon Mute on “R&R” with Ervin and McPherson going deep on “Bugs”. Mingus moves.
Mingus Rebels was a recording in protest to the “commercial” aspects of the Newport Jazz Festival, with the wide range of Mingus guests including Roy Eldridge/tp, Eric Dolphy/as, Jimmy Knepper/tb, TommY Flanagan/p, Jo Jones/dr Max Roach/dr, Abbey Lincoln/voc and Kenny Dorham/tp among others. The disparate mix of swingers and left of center boppers works amazingly well, with Lincoln belting out “’Tain’ Nobody’s Bizness If I Do” and Roach joyfully sparing with J ones with Booker Little’s horn out front on “Cliff Walk”. MIngus regulars Knepper and Dolphy are glorious foils on “Mysterios Blues” and the team goes into a cocktail lounge act on a sublime “Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams”. Mingus moods
Even the cover photo for Max Roach’s We Insist! tells you that this album is a story about civil rights. The centerpiece of this album (in it’s original mono format), the “Freedom Now Suite” starring Abbey Lincoln and singing lyrics by Oscar Brown, is supported by a wide range of artists including Coleman Hawkins, Walter Benton, Booker Little, Julian Priester, James Schenck, Babatunde Olatunji, Ray Mantilla and Tomas DuVall. There are earthy blues like “Driva’ Man” with Lincoln belting it out and Hawkins getting deep into the gut bucket. A duet between Roach and Lincoln results in a riveting “Tryptich” and some agonizing wordless vocals by Lincoln on “Tears For Johannesburg” are riveting. WHEW!