Cat No: EJC55437
Format: CD

• Two of Charles Mingus’ most celebrated albums in their entirety: “Pithecanthropus Erectus” (1956) and “The Clown” (1957). All but one of the songs included here were original compositions by Mingus - featuring Jackie McLean, Jimmy Knepper, J.R. Monterose and Mal Waldron.

• “Pithecanthropus Erectus” was Mingus' breakthrough as a leader, the album where he established himself as a composer of boundless imagination and a fresh new voice that, despite his ambitiously modern concepts, was firmly grounded in jazz tradition. “The Clown” marked his second consecutive masterpiece, with Mingus evoking something specific with every tune, and even his most impressionistic forays have a strong storytelling quality.

• Personnel : Charles Mingus, bass on all tracks plus, on “Pithecanthropus Erectus” : Jackie McLean (as), J.R. Monterose (ts), Mal Waldron (p), Willie Jones (d) - New York, January 30, 1956. On “The Clown” : Shafi Hadi [aka Curtis Porter] (as; ts on 8 only), Jimmy Knepper (tb), Wade Legge (p), Dannie Richmond (d), Jean Shepherd (narration on 8 only) - New York, March 12 & February 13 (track 8 only), 1957.

• Total Time: 77:14 - 8 tracks - Includes 16-page booklet.