3 Originals: The clown; Jazz experiments; Pithecanthropus erectus (1957)

3 albums uit 1954-57 op 2CD's. In het midden staat de oudste, "Jazz Experiments": "These 1954 sessions include Thad Jones (t) and John LaPorta (cl, as) and combine old and new forms of classical and jazz. "Pithecanthropus Erectus" (1956) 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. He began seeking new ways to increase the evocative power of his art and challenge his musicians (a.o. Jackie McLean (as) and Mal Waldron (p)) to work outside of convention. "The Clown" (1957) was Mingus' second masterpiece in a row, upping the already intense emotional commitment of "Pithecanthropus" and burning with righteous anger and frustration. Even his most impressionistic forays have a strong storytelling quality. In fact, the title cut makes that explicit with a story verbally improvised by Jean Shepherd from a predetermined narrative." (Allmusic)