Mingus Takes Manhattan - The Complete Birdland Dates: 1961 - 1962

Description

The original tapes used to record the radio broadcasts were found, cleaned, and remastered specifically for this album. Previously released only as bootlegs, the recordings here show Mingus in a period of peak creativity. Alternating between bass and piano throughout these sets, Mingus is surrounded by a rotating cast of heavyweights, including Yusef Lateef, Roland Kirk, Jaki Byard, Booker Ervin, Pepper Adams, as well as Mingus stalwarts Charles McPherson, Dannie Richmond, and others. Set in a Bronx basement, these incredibly rare recordings receive their best-sounding release since 1962. At the center of this box set is a 44-page book with a foreword by Christian McBride, a highly informative 15,000-word essay by Brian Priestley, and a new interview with Charles McPherson, providing context and insight into the dates and the era. The whole is illustrated with elegant design, rare photographs, and ephemera throughout the book.