Old Songs Made New: Charles Mingus - "Pre-Bird"

Old Songs Made New: Charles Mingus - "Pre-Bird"

For many years I figured Pre-Bird was a compilation of early recordings by Mingus, made in the years before he hit the big time on his own. Man, was I ever wrong on that one. The wonderful music on the album was recorded in 1960 and is every bit as fantastic as one would expect from Mingus during this period of his illustrious career.

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Art Farmer & Benny Golson Jazztet - "Another Git Together"

Art Farmer & Benny Golson Jazztet - "Another Git Together"

Another Git Together is a hard bop lover's dream, and while listening to it I couldn't help but wonder why this group isn't held in higher regard in the history of jazz's golden age. Golson has always been appreciated as an accomplished jazz composer, but Farmer often seems to get lost in the pantheon of great trumpet players who appeared in the late 1950's and 1960's. Yet, the more I hear his playing, the more it becomes obvious the dude didn't take a backseat to anyone.

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