Charles Mingus – Changes Two

Charles Mingus – Changes Two

This album was recorded when I was 5 months old. I can guarantee I didn’t hear it then, sadly. But I’ve made up for lost time over the years.

For some strange reason, I do not have Changes One here (I need to correct that). No matter, there’s enough on this slab of genius to keep an ol’ jazz head like me occupied for hours. It just sounds so damn classy, buoyed as it is by Mingus’ bass. It’d be easy to just write about him for this whole thing, but (if you can imagine) there’s so much more here.

George Adams’ saxophone cuts through the incredibly-named Free Cell Block F, ’Tis Nazi U.S.A. like a new scythe through wheat. A stellar opening salvo.

Album marathon (at 17:32 long) Orange Was The Color Of Her Dress, Then Silk Blue is a centerpiece track. It sounds to me like a big band jamming after the bandleader has gone home for the night, stretching its legs, having a drink and trying out ideas that hadn’t made the cut earlier. Especially great are the bits where the players just let loose with blistering runs of notes that dissolve again into pure lounge swing. Don Pullen’s piano work is absolutely glorious.

The album continues in brilliance from there, as you can well imagine. The trumpet work of Jack Walrath on Black Bats And Poles blows my mind. I play trumpet (poorly), and everytime I hear this it’s so bloody sweet. Everyone else cuts loose too, and it’s a beautiful thing. Duke Ellington’s Sound Of Love features Jackie Paris on vocals, and is such a sweet track, my goodness. And finally, For Harry Carney closes out the album with eight minutes of bluesy freak-out glory that truly pleases me to no end.

I also need to give a shout-out to the drumming of Dannie Richmond throughout this album. He’s absolutely spot-on at every turn. Damn, I love this CD. And yes, I really oughta get Changes One. For now, I will continue to easily love this one. You need this.