Three or Four Shades of Blues: Difference between revisions

Three or Four Shades of Blues
Three or Four Shades of Blues
Studio album by Charles Mingus
Released	1977
Recorded	March 9, 10, and 29, 1977
Studio	Atlantic Studios, New York; Record Plant, Los Angeles
Genre	Jazz
Length	44:13
Label	Atlantic
Producer	Ilhan Mimaroglu
Charles Mingus chronology

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Three or Four Shades of Blues is a studio album by the American jazz bassist and bandleader Charles Mingus. It was recorded in sessions held on March 9 and 11, 1977, at New York City's Atlantic Studios, and on March 29 at the Record Plant in Los Angeles.^{[citation needed]} The album features two new versions of Mingus's "standards" and three new compositions performed by large ensembles featuring saxophonists Ricky Ford, George Coleman, and Sonny Fortune, pianist Jimmy Rowles, guitarists Larry Coryell, Philip Catherine and John Scofield, bassists Ron Carter and George Mraz, trumpeter Jack Walrath, and drummer Dannie Richmond.

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	^[5]
Q	^[2]
Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	^[3]
The Village Voice	A−^[4]

In a contemporary review for The Village Voice, Robert Christgau said the second side on Three or Four Shades of Blue was "the best composed bebop" he had heard in 1977, partly because Coryell and Fortune gave their most impressive performances in some time.^[4] The New Yorker found the record "subtle and funny and full of Mingus's peculiar and unmistakable authority".^[6] AllMusic's Stuart Kremsky was less enthusiastic in a retrospective review, writing that it was not Mingus's "best work, but not without merit". He felt the title track was one of his most successful attempts at longer compositions, even though he said the electric guitars were out of place.^[1]

Track listing[edit]

All compositions by Charles Mingus.

Side one
No.	Title	Recording date	Length
1.	"Better Get Hit in Yo' Soul"	March 9, 1977	4:35
2.	"Goodbye Pork Pie Hat"	March 9, 1977	7:00
3.	"Noddin Ya Head Blues"	March 9, 1977	10:29

Side two
No.	Title	Recording date	Length
4.	"Three or Four Shades of Blues"	March 29, 1977	12:03
5.	"Nobody Knows"	March 11, 1977	10:06

Personnel[edit]

Charles Mingus: double bass, piano, vocals, arranger
Jack Walrath: trumpet
Ricky Ford: tenor saxophone
George Coleman: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone (tracks 1–4)
Sonny Fortune: alto saxophone (track 5)
Bob Neloms: piano
Jimmy Rowles: piano (track 4)
Philip Catherine: guitar (tracks 1–3 & 5)
Larry Coryell: guitar (tracks 1–4)
John Scofield: guitar (tracks 4 & 5)
Ron Carter: bass (track 5)
George Mraz: bass (tracks 1–3)
Dannie Richmond: drums
Paul Jeffrey: arranger

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b Kremsky, S. AllMusic Review accessed April 15, 2009.
^ Q. London: 110. July 1993.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link)
^ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 141. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
^ ^a ^b Christgau, Robert (December 26, 1977). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1005. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
^ The New Yorker, Volume 53, Issues 46-52, p. 63.

External links[edit]

Three or Four Shades of Blues at Discogs (list of releases)

[AM-1] Kremsky, S. AllMusic Review accessed April 15, 2009.

[2] Q. London: 110. July 1993.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link)

[RSJRG-3] Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 141. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.

[VV-4] Christgau, Robert (December 26, 1977). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved May 12, 2016.

[Penguin-5] Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1005. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.

[6] The New Yorker, Volume 53, Issues 46-52, p. 63.

[1]

[5]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[6]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Infobox album
-{{Infobox Album | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
-|  Name        = Three or Four Shades of Blues
+| name       = Three or Four Shades of Blues
-|  Type        = [[Album]]
+| type       = studio
-|  Artist      = [[Charles Mingus]]
+| artist     = [[Charles Mingus]]
-|  Cover       = Three or Four Shades of Blues.jpg
+| cover      = Three or Four Shades of Blues.jpg
-|  Released    = [[1977]]
+| alt        =
+| released   = {{Start date|1977|mf=yes}}
-|  Recorded    = [[March 9]], [[March 10|10]] & [[March 29|29]], [[1977]]
-|  Genre       = [[Jazz]]
+| recorded   = March 9, 10, and 29, 1977
-|  Length      = 44:13
+| venue      =
+| studio     = [[Atlantic Studios]], New York; [[Record Plant]], Los Angeles
-|  Label       = [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
-|  Producer    =
+| genre      = [[Jazz]]
-|  Reviews     = *{{amg|id=10:gvftxqrgldje|}}{{rating|3|5}}
+| length     = {{Duration|m=44|s=13}}
+| label      = [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
-|  Last album  = ''[[Changes Two]]''<br />(1975)|
+| producer   = [[Ilhan Mimaroglu]]
-|  This album  = '''Three or Four Shades of Blues'''<br />(1977)
+| prev_title = [[Changes Two]]
-|  Next album  = ''[[Cumbia & Jazz Fusion]]''<br/>(1978)
+| prev_year  = 1975
+| next_title = [[Cumbia & Jazz Fusion]]
+| next_year  = 1978
 }}
+'''''Three or Four Shades of Blues''''' is a [[studio album]] by the American [[jazz]] bassist and bandleader [[Charles Mingus]]. It was recorded in sessions held on March 9 and 11, 1977, at New York City's [[Atlantic Studios]], and on March 29 at the [[Record Plant]] in Los Angeles.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} The album features two new versions of Mingus's "[[jazz standard|standards]]" and three new compositions performed by large ensembles featuring saxophonists [[Ricky Ford]], [[George Coleman]], and [[Sonny Fortune]], pianist [[Jimmy Rowles]], guitarists [[Larry Coryell]], [[Philip Catherine]] and [[John Scofield]], bassists [[Ron Carter]] and [[George Mraz]], trumpeter [[Jack Walrath]], and drummer [[Dannie Richmond]].
+== Critical reception ==
-'''''Three or Four Shades of Blues''''' is an album by [[Charles Mingus]] recorded for the [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]] label in 1977. It features two new versions of Mingus' "standards" and three new compostions performed by large ensembles featuring [[Jack Walrath]], [[Ricky Ford]], [[George Coleman]], [[Sonny Fortune]], [[Jimmy Rowles]], [[Philip Catherine]], [[Larry Coryell]], [[John Scofield]], [[Ron Carter]], [[George Mraz]] and [[Dannie Richmond]]. The [[Allmusic]] review by Stuart Kremsky states that the album is "Not his best work, but not without merit".<ref>Kremsky, S. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gvftxqrgldje Allmusic Review] accessed April 15, 2009.</ref>
+{{Album ratings
+| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
+| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="AM"/>
+| rev3 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
+| rev3Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|location=London|title=none|page=110|date=July 1993}}</ref>
+| rev4 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide|Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide]]''
+| rev4Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=RSJRG>{{Cite book |editor-last=Swenson |editor-first=J. | year = 1985 | title = The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide | publisher = Random House/Rolling Stone | location = USA | isbn = 0-394-72643-X | page = 141}}</ref>
+| rev5 = ''[[The Village Voice]]''
+| rev5Score = A−<ref name="VV">{{cite news|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=December 26, 1977|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv12-77.php|title=Christgau's Consumer Guide|newspaper=[[The Village Voice]]|location=New York|access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref>
+|rev2 = ''[[The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings]]''
+|rev2score  = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref name="Penguin">{{cite book |last1=Cook |first1=Richard |authorlink1=Richard Cook (journalist) |last2=Morton |first2=Brian |authorlink2=Brian Morton (Scottish writer) |title=[[The Penguin Guide to Jazz|The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings]] |year=2008 |edition=9th |publisher=[[Penguin Books|Penguin]] |isbn=978-0-141-03401-0 |page=1005}}</ref>
+}}
+In a contemporary review for ''[[The Village Voice]]'', [[Robert Christgau]] said the second side on ''Three or Four Shades of Blue'' was "the best composed [[bebop]]" he had heard in 1977, partly because Coryell and Fortune gave their most impressive performances in some time.<ref name="VV"/> ''[[The New Yorker]]'' found the record "subtle and funny and full of Mingus's peculiar and unmistakable authority".<ref>''[[The New Yorker]]'', Volume 53, Issues 46-52, p. 63.</ref> [[AllMusic]]'s Stuart Kremsky was less enthusiastic in a retrospective review, writing that it was not Mingus's "best work, but not without merit". He felt the title track was one of his most successful attempts at longer compositions, even though he said the electric guitars were out of place.<ref name="AM">Kremsky, S. [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r165253|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic Review] accessed April 15, 2009.</ref>
 ==Track listing==
+All compositions by Charles Mingus.
-# "Better Get Hit in Yo' Soul" - 4:35
-# "[[Goodbye Pork Pie Hat]]" - 7:00
+{{Tracklist
-# "Noddin Ya Head Blues" - 10:29
+| headline  = Side one
-# "Three or Four Shades of Blues" - 12:03
+| extra_column = Recording date
-# "Nobody Knows" - 10:06
+| title1   = Better Get Hit in Yo' Soul
-:''All compositions by Charles Mingus''
+| extra1   = March 9, 1977
-:*Recorded on March 1 (tracks 3 & 4) and March 10, 1977 (track 1) in NYC and March 31 and April 1, 1977 (track 2) at Dirmaphon Studio, Rome, Italy.
+| length1   = 4:35
+| title2   = [[Goodbye Pork Pie Hat]]
+| extra2   = March 9, 1977
+| length2   = 7:00
+| title3   = Noddin Ya Head Blues
+| extra3   = March 9, 1977
+| length3   =10:29
+}}
+{{Tracklist
+| headline = Side two
+| extra_column = Recording date
+| title4  =Three or Four Shades of Blues
+| extra4   = March 29, 1977
+| length4   =12:03
+| title5  =Nobody Knows
+| extra5   = March 11, 1977
+| length5   = 10:06
+}}
 ==Personnel==
-*[[Charles Mingus]]: [[double bass|bass]], [[vocal music|vocals]], [[arrangement (music)|arranger]]
+*[[Charles Mingus]]: [[double bass]], [[piano]], [[vocal music|vocals]], [[arrangement (music)|arranger]]
 *[[Jack Walrath]]: [[trumpet]]
 *[[Ricky Ford]]: [[tenor saxophone]]
-*[[George Coleman]]: [[alto saxophone], tenor saxophone (tracks 1-4)
+*[[George Coleman]]: [[alto saxophone]], tenor saxophone (tracks 1–4)
 *[[Sonny Fortune]]: alto saxophone (track 5)
 *Bob Neloms: [[piano]]
 *[[Jimmy Rowles]]: piano (track 4)
-*[[Philip Catherine]]: [[guitar]] (tracks 1-3 & 5)
+*[[Philip Catherine]]: [[guitar]] (tracks 1–3 & 5)
-*[[Larry Coryell]]: guitar (tracks 1-4)
+*[[Larry Coryell]]: guitar (tracks 1–4)
 *[[John Scofield]]: guitar (tracks 4 & 5)
 *[[Ron Carter]]: bass (track 5)
-*[[George Mraz]]: bass (tracks 1-3)
+*[[George Mraz]]: bass (tracks 1–3)
 *[[Dannie Richmond]]: [[drum kit|drums]]
-*[[Paul Jeffery]]: arranger
+*[[Paul Jeffrey]]: arranger
 ==References==
 {{reflist}}
+== External links ==
+* {{Discogs master|type=album|249356}}
+{{Charles Mingus}}
+{{Authority control}}
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Three Or Four Shades Of Blues}}
 [[Category:1977 albums]]
-[[Category:Jazz albums]]
 [[Category:Atlantic Records albums]]
 [[Category:Charles Mingus albums]]
+[[Category:Albums arranged by Paul Jeffrey]]
-[[es:Three or Four Shades of Blues]]

v t e Charles Mingus
Discography
Studio albums	The Jazz Experiments of Charlie Mingus Jazz Composers Workshop Pithecanthropus Erectus The Clown East Coasting Mingus Three Weary Blues A Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry Mingus Ah Um Blues & Roots Mingus Dynasty Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus Pre-Bird Mingus Oh Yeah Tijuana Moods Money Jungle The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Tonight at Noon Mingus Plays Piano Blue Bird Pithycanthropus Erectus Let My Children Hear Music Mingus Moves Changes One Changes Two Three or Four Shades of Blues His Final Work Cumbia & Jazz Fusion Something Like a Bird Charles Mingus with Orchestra Reincarnation of a Lovebird
Live albums	Mingus at the Bohemia (1956) Jazz Portraits: Mingus in Wonderland (1959) The Complete Town Hall Concert (1962) The Charles Mingus Quintet & Max Roach (1963) Astral Weeks (1964) Town Hall Concert (1964) Revenge! (1964) The Great Concert of Charles Mingus (1964) Mingus in Europe Volume I (1964) Mingus in Europe Volume II (1964) Right Now: Live at the Jazz Workshop (1964) Mingus at Monterey (1964) My Favorite Quintet (1965) Music Written for Monterey 1965 (1965) Charles Mingus Sextet In Berlin (1970) Charles Mingus and Friends in Concert (1972) Mingus at Antibes (1974) Mingus at Carnegie Hall (1974) Cornell 1964 (2007)
Books	Beneath the Underdog (1971 autobiography)
Related	Mingus Big Band Mingus Big Band Live at Jazz Standard Mingus Dynasty Sue Mingus Jazz at Massey Hall (1953) Weary Blues (1958) Newport Rebels (1960) Pepper Adams Plays the Compositions of Charlie Mingus (1964) Mingus (1979) Epitaph (1990) Mingus: Charlie Mingus 1968 Charles Mingus: Triumph of the Underdog (1998 documentary)