Blues & Roots

Blues & Roots is an album by Charles Mingus, recorded in 1959 and released in 1960. It has been reissued on CD, by Atlantic Records and Rhino.

Blues & Roots
Studio album by Charles Mingus
Released	March 1960[1]
Recorded	4 February 1959, Atlantic Studios, New York City
Genre	Hard-bop, post-bop
Length	38:49
Label	Atlantic SD 1305
Producer	Nesuhi Ertegün
Charles Mingus chronology
Jazz Portraits: Mingus in Wonderland (1959) Blues & Roots (1960) Mingus Ah Um (1959)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
Q Magazine
Down Beat

Mingus explained the birth of this record in the album's liner notes:

This record is unusual—it presents only one part of my musical world, the blues. A year ago, Nesuhi Ertegün suggested that I record an entire blues album in the style of Haitian Fight Song (in Atlantic LP 1260), because some people, particularly critics, were saying I didn't swing enough. He wanted to give them a barrage of soul music: churchy, blues, swinging, earthy. I thought it over. I was born swinging and clapped my hands in church as a little boy, but I've grown up and I like to do things other than just swing. But blues can do more than just swing. So I agreed.

Reception

• Q magazine (7/93, p. 110) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...at his best he could drive his fellow musicians onwards and upwards with big bass playing and hoarse exhortations. Blues & Roots contains six servings of this brilliance..."
• Down Beat (1960) - 4 Stars - Very Good - "...vital and important music...[Mingus] is outstanding in his solo work...this is something worth careful and thorough listening..."

Track listing

1. "Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting" – 5:39
2. "Cryin' Blues" – 4:58
3. "Moanin'" – 8:01
4. "Tensions" – 6:27
5. "My Jelly Roll Soul" – 6:47
6. "E's Flat Ah's Flat Too" – 6:37

The 1998 Rhino CD reissue included these additional tracks:

1. "Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting" – 6:59 – alternate take
2. "Tensions" – 5:18 – alternate take
3. "My Jelly Roll Soul" – 11:25 – alternate take
4. "E's Flat Ah's Flat Too" – 6:47 – alternate take

All tracks composed by Charles Mingus. Recorded February 4, 1959 at Atlantic Studios in New York City.

Personnel

• Charles Mingus – bass
• John Handy – alto sax
• Jackie McLean – alto sax
• Booker Ervin – tenor sax
• Pepper Adams – baritone sax
• Jimmy Knepper – trombone
• Willie Dennis – trombone
• Dannie Richmond – drums
• Horace Parlan – piano, except for "E's Flat Ah's Flat Too"
• Mal Waldron – piano on "E's Flat Ah's Flat Too"
• Nesuhi Ertegün – producer
• Tom Dowd – recording engineer

References

1. "Reviews and Ratings of New Albums - Billboard Magazine". 21 March 1960. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
2. Huey, Steve (2011). "Blues & Roots - Charles Mingus | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 13 August 2011.

Sources

• Sleeve notes to Atlantic Records CD reissue of Blues & Roots (Atlantic SD-1305-2)