Charles Mingus: "Oh Yeah!"

Tonight's Jazz Feature is unique even in the varied discography of Charles Mingus. First of all Mingus plays only piano here and chants, sings and delivers verbal encouragement to the soloists. Also the band is built around the amazing talents of Roland Kirk (aka Rahsaan Roland Kirk) who plays his tenor saxophone, manzello (a type of soprano saxophone), his stritch (an elongated alto saxophone), flute and various percussion and sundry instruments like whistles, gongs etc. In the band too is tenor saxophonist Booker Ervin and trombone great Jimmy Knepper, both Mingus favorites. On bass is Doug Watkins and on drums is of course, Dannie Richmond. The music is loose, free and covers all the emotions from humor to anger and is sometimes surrealistic. This band was formed in the Summer of 1961 and marked a switch in style for Mingus but was still reflective of his immense musical personality. This album was recorded for Atlantic Records on November 6, 1961 and issued as "Oh Yeah!". It stands alone and is tonight's Jazz Feature.