Broadcast on 31-Jan-2011

This is arguably Charles Mingus' last great recording. It was done at two separate sessions. One composition was done in 1976 with his working band of the time with Jack Walrath (trumpet), George Adams (tenor saxophone), Danny Mixon (piano) and of course Dannie Richmond on drums and Mingus on bass. The band was augmented by some fine Italian musicans as well. The piece was to be used in a film called "Todo Modo" but alas for a variety of complex reasons it wasn't used in the film but we have the music. That is the first selection. The second called "Cumbia and Jazz Fusion" was recorded the following year (1977) and the first indications of ALS (undiagnosed) was happening to Mingus. Regardless, the composition showed Mingus' appreciation for what we now call "world music". It features his last regular band with Walrath, Richmond and Ricky Ford (tenor saxophone), Bob Neloms (piano) augmented by a few others like Jimmy Knepper on trombone etc. It's a fascinating musical excursion into the mind of Mingus and the music ranges from exotic to straight swing with some satire, politics and ribald humor and anger all rolled into one piece. Mingus' music continues to be some of the most compelling in American Jazz and this is one of his last great statements. Mingus died on January 5, 1979.