Something like a bird
| Something like a bird | ||||
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| Studio album by Charles Mingus | ||||
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Publication |
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| Label (s) | Atlantic Records | |||
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Format (s) |
LP, CD |
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Title (number) |
2 |
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Ilhan Mimaroglu, Raymond Silva |
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Studio (s) |
Atlantic Studios, New York City |
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Something Like a Bird is a jazz album released posthumously in 1980 by Atlantic Records under the name of Charles Mingus . The recordings were made in Atlantic Studios, New York City on January 18, 1978 ("Something Like a Bird (Parts 1 & 2)" and on January 23, 1978 ("Farewell Farwell"). The recordings were released on compact disc 2013.
background
Due to illness, Charles Mingus (who died in January 1979) was no longer able to participate as a musician on the recordings of his last two Atlantic albums. Although Mingus was already in a wheelchair at the time, he oversaw the recording sessions that led to this LP and Me Myself an Eye . Mingus was also present as director and arranger for the recording of “Farewell Farwell” on January 23rd. The orchestra was directed by Paul Jeffrey , who was also to assist Mingus with the world premiere of “Three Worlds of Drums” and “Something Like a Bird” at the Newport Jazz Festival in Saratoga Springs . The recordings for Something Like a Bird took place the day before "Three Worlds of Drums", which appeared on the previous album Me Myself an Eye (1979), so the line-up is largely identical.
The music in this set consists of a 27-piece band (including 11 saxophones and four guitars) for the 31-minute “Something Like a Bird” and a smaller 21-piece orchestra (only nine saxophones and three guitars) for “Farewell Farwell ". It played Randy Brecker , Mike Davis (trumpet), Jack Walrath (who also arranged), Slide Hampton , Jimmy Knepper and saxophonist Ken Hitchcock , Lee Konitz , Charles McPherson , Akira Ohmori , George Coleman , Dan Block , Michael Brecker , Ricky Ford , Pepper Adams , Ronnie Cuber , Craig Purpura . The rhythm section included Kenny Werner (electric piano), Bob Neloms (piano), Larry Coryell , Ted Dunbar , Danny Toan , Jack Wilkins (guitar), Eddie Gomez , George Mraz (bass), Joe Chambers , Dannie Richmond (drums) and Ray Mantilla (percussion).
The album peaked at number 37 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.
Track list
- Charles Mingus - Something Like a Bird (Atlantic - SD 8805)
- Something Like a Bird 31:12
- Farewell Farwell 6:57
reception
Scott Yanow gave the album three (out of five) stars in Allmusic and said: “It seems that everyone in their last few years wanted to play with (or at least for) Mingus; Musicians like Lee Konitz, Charles McPherson, George Coleman, Mike Brecker, Ricky Ford, Pepper Adams, Randy Brecker, Jack Walrath and Slide Hampton, Jimmy Knepper, Larry Coryell and bassists Eddie Gomez and George Mraz help with this spirited, albeit overloaded Music. It is not indispensable, but definitely colorful. "
Individual evidence
- ^ Brian Priestley : Mingus. A Critical Biography. Quartet Books, London, Melbourne, New York City ISBN 0-7043-2275-7 p. 221
- ^ Charles Mingus - Something Like a Bird at Discogs
- ^ Review of the album at Allmusic (English). Retrieved March 1, 2020.