Chales Mingus: "The Black Saint and The Sinner Lady

This album is one of bassist/pianist/composer Charles Mingus' great musical triumphs. Mr. Mingus was finally able to put out a recording of all original music and had full control of the production. The cover, the notes, the editing and post-production and of course the music. It was everything he wanted and this album is arguably one of his very best. He was able to get this band into shape via a long engagement at New York's Village Vanguard. The music is a suite of basically four movements. The band consists of 12 pieces and the chief soloists are Jerome Richardson on baritone and soprano saxophones, Quentin "Butter" Jackson on trombone, Charlie Mariano on alto saxophone, Jaki Byard on piano Jay Berliner on guitar and Mingus on bass and piano. The music is dense and powerful and runs an incredible gamut of emotions from pristine beauty to angry chaos. As I stated this is one of Mr. Mingus' triumphs.......The Black Saint and The Sinner Lady.