The Jazz Experiments of Charlie Mingus explained

The Jazz Experiments of Charlie Mingus
Type:	Album
Artist:	Charles Mingus
Cover:	The Jazz Experiments of Charlie Mingus.jpg
Released:	1955
Recorded:	December 1954
Genre:	Jazz
Length:	46:27
Label:	Bethlehem, London (UK)
Chronology:	Charles Mingus
Prev Title:	Miss Bliss
Prev Year:	1953
Next Title:	Jazz Composers Workshop
Next Year:	1956

The Jazz Experiments of Charlie Mingus is an album by jazz bassist and composer Charles Mingus released on the Bethlehem label.^[1] The album contains tracks originally released by Period Records as two 10-inch LPs entitled Jazzical Moods and co-credited to John LaPorta.^[2]

Reception

The AllMusic review by Heather Phares stated: "These 1954 Period Records sessions include the work of Thad Jones on trumpet and John LaPorta on clarinet and alto sax, combine old and new forms of classical and jazz for a cool jazz sound. Tracks like 'Minor Intrusion' and 'Thrice Upon a Time' demonstrate the synergy between Mingus and his players, and display his compositional skills".^[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Charles Mingus except as indicated

1. "What Is This Thing Called Love?" (Cole Porter) - 8:14
2. "Minor Intrusion" - 10:23
3. "Stormy Weather" (Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler) - 3:21
4. "Four Hands" (John LaPorta, Mingus) - 8:59
5. "Thrice Upon a Theme" - 6:47
6. "The Spur of the Moment / Echonitus" (LaPorta, Mingus) - 8:43

• Recorded in New York in December 1954

Original Jazzical Moods Track Listings

All compositions by Charles Mingus except as indicated

Jazzical Moods, Vol. 1

1. "What Is This Thing Called Love?" (Cole Porter) - 8:14
2. "Stormy Weather" (Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler) - 3:21
3. "Minor Intrusion" - 10:23
4. "Abstractions" - 4:14 (Not included in The Jazz Experiments of Charlie Mingus)

Jazzical Moods, Vol. 2

1. "The Spur of the Moment / Echonitus" (LaPorta, Mingus) - 8:43
2. "Thrice Upon a Theme" - 6:47
3. "Four Hands" (LaPorta, Mingus) - 8:59

Personnel

• • Charles Mingus - bass, piano John LaPorta - clarinet, alto saxophone
• Thad Jones (credited on original issue as "Oliver King") - trumpet (tracks 1-3 & 6)
• Teo Macero - tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone
• Jackson Wiley - cello (tracks 1–3)
• Clem DeRosa - drums, tambourine

Notes and References

1. http://www.jazzdisco.org/charles-mingus/catalog/#bethlehem-bcp-65 Charles Mingus discography
2. Mingus, C. Liner notes to The Jazz Experiments of Charlie Mingus
3. Phares, H. AllMusic Review accessed June 8, 2011