Details: Box Set. Mingus Takes Manhattan collects together Charles Mingus' run of dates at the world famous Birdland, New York from 1961-1962, released here officially for the first time ever in conjunction with the Mingus Estate. The original reel-to-reel tapes used to record the radio broadcasts were tracked down, cleaned and remastered especially for this release. Previously only issued in bootleg form, the recordings enclosed feature Mingus in the midst of a highly creative spell. Alternating between bass and piano during these sets features a rotating band of heavy hitters including Yusef Lateef, Roland Kirk, Jaki Byard, Booker Ervin, Pepper Adams as well as Mingus mainstays Charles McPherson, Dannie Richmond and others. Located in a basement in the Bronx, these incredibly rare recordings are given their best sonic outing since 1962. At the centre of this package is a 44-page book with a foreword from Christian McBride, a highly informative 15,000 word essay from Brian Priestley and a new interview with Charles McPherson, giving context and inside information to the dates and the time. All of this is illustrated with slick design and rare photographs and ephemera throughout.

Tracklist:

*** 21st October 1961 - 24th March 1962
Nouroog
Ecclusiastics
Hog Callin` Blues
Take The ‘A’ Train
Fables Of Faubus
Eat That Chicken
*** 31st March 1962 - 5th May 1962
Monk Funk Or Vice Versa
Oh Lord Don’t Let Them...
Eat That Chicken
Reets and I
*** 5th May 1962 - 12th May 1962
Monk Funk or Vice Versa
Devil Woman
Eat That Chicken
Introduction by Symphony Syd
Peggy’s Blue Skylight
Tijuana Table Dance (aka Ysabel’s Table Dance)
Eat That Chicken
*** 19th October 1962 - 26th October 1962
The Search (I Can't Get Started)
Monk Funk or Vice Versa
Please Don't Come Back From The Moon
Eat That Chicken
Monk Funk or Vice Versa
O.P.
The Search (I Can't Get Started)

Charles Mingus - Mingus Takes Manhattan - The Complete Birdland Dates 1961-1962 (Vinyl LP)