Características
On the back cover of "Let My Children Hear Music," released by Columbia, Charlie Mingus thanks producer Teo Macereo for his "tireless efforts to produce the best album I ever made." And still from his deathbed in 1979 in Mexico he sent a message to Sy Johnson (who was responsible for many arrangements on this album) that he liked this LP the most from his career. Although, in fact, it is usually the recordings with small ensembles that are cited as Mingus' most important works, this LP belongs in the top echelon of his oeuvre and is in no way inferior to other excellent recordings by larger ensembles, by anyone and including Duke Ellington's. The individual tracks on this LP have had ample time to mature over the years, one of them since 1939, and have occasionally been played live, but this was the first opportunity to record them with a large, well-rehearsed orchestra. Still, there were problems, both during the recording and afterwards. The exact instrumentation of the orchestra is unclear, mainly for contractual reasons, various arrangers had to put the individual parts together, making it difficult to determine the actual originator, and Macero also freely edited the material (as he had done on various Miles Davis projects), sometimes quite clearly.
Be that as it may, the listener will immediately forget this quibbling when he hears the music. Beginning with the irresistible swing of "The Shoes of the Fisherman's Wife Are Some Jiveass Slippers" to the swirling lows of "The I of Hurricane Sue," these recordings are among the most gloriously inventive ever made, full of life. Each piece on this LP has its own strengths, but these two simply must be mentioned. "Adagio Ma Non Troppo" is based on a piano improvisation by Mingus released on "Mingus Plays Piano" in 1964. Its logical structure, playful nature and crystalline moments of beauty would already be amazing in a polished composition, that the piece originated as an improvisation is almost unbelievable. "Hobo Ho," a divine powerhouse, is dominated by James Moody's impassioned saxophone, at feverish speed the background horns fire riff after riff at the soloists - the entire composition balances on the edge of chaos. The album "Let My Children Hear Music" is a tremendous achievement and a must for any serious jazz fan. Included with the album is an essay by Mingus that covers a huge amount of territory and reads like an inspired bass solo by Mingus - it is highly recommended for any interested listener.
This album simply cannot be recommended enough.
Snooky Young (tp); Jimmy Knepper (tb); Julius Watkins (frh); Charles McPherson (as); Jaki Byard (p); Charles McCracken (vc); Ron Carter (b); Charles Mingus (b, comp, arr); Dannie Richmond (dr); u.a.
Side 1
1. The Shoes Of The Fisherman's Wife Are Some Jive Ass Slippers
2. Adagio Ma Non Troppo
3. Don't Be Afraid, The Clown's Afraid Too
Side 2
1. Hobo Ho
2. The Chill Of Death
3. The I Of Hurricane Sue