Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um (Limited Anniversary Edition, 180 Gram, Blue Vinyl) (LP)

Widely regarded as one of the greatest jazz albums, Mingus Ah Um was originally released in 1959. Mingus pays tribute to many of his musical predecessors through songs like "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat", "Open Letter To Duke", and "Jelly Roll", while "Fables Of Faubus" was named after Arkansas Governor Orval E. Faubus who wouldn't allow integeration of Little Rock schools even after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled otherwise. "Charles Mingus' debut for Columbia, Mingus Ah Um is a stunning summation of the bassist's talents and probably the best reference point for beginners. While there's also a strong case for The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady as his best work overall, it lacks Ah Um's immediate accessibility and brilliantly sculpted individual tunes. Mingus' compositions and arrangements were always extremely focused, assimilating individual spontaneity into a firm consistency of mood, and that approach reaches an ultra-tight zenith on Mingus Ah Um. The band includes longtime Mingus stalwarts