Charles Mingus - O.P.

[itinerants]

Are there any Charles Mingus fans here? I'm trying to identify how many times he recorded O.P. and on what albums the tracks are available.

My discography shows Amsterdam 1970; Paris October 1970; Berlin November 1970; Tokyo January 1971.

Now I've just come across a recording from Milan October 1970 not mentioned in the discography. But I never trust album liner notes. Also, I have a recording which purports to be an unspecified location in 1969 and with John Foster on piano, not Jaki Byard.

Can anyone throw any light on this?

[starmack]

Hi itinerants,
Take it you know that Joni Mitchell did a tribute album nearly 30 years ago devoted to Charlie Mingus.
Good luck

[con-amca]

My discog. (Lord's) lists 7 recordings of O.P. by Mingus.
1. B'cast from Birdland 26/9/62
Ozone LP19, BAT 5/8, Yadeon 501 (CD)
2. Live at Slugs saloon 31/3/70
Jazz Birdies of Paradise (It) J-Bop 044 (CD)
3. Milan 25/10/70
Joker (Jap) UPS2072KR
4. B'cast Paris, France 28/10/70
Giganti del Jazz (It)GJ2, Europa Jazz (It)1002
Ulysee (F) AROC50810/811, DIW (Jap)326/7 (CD)
5. Concert, Berlin 5/11/70
Beppo(E) BEP508
6. Tokyo 14/1/71
Col (Jap)NCB-7008, Denon (Jap)30CY-1388 (CD)
7. Concert, New York 3/6/89
Columbia C2K45428 (CD)

There is nothing listed for 1969.

Also, no trace of John Foster recording O.P. with Mingus.
Foster's first listed recording session with Mingus is 23/9/71.

I don't know how many of the above are still in the catalogue.

I hope this helps. If you want any personnel information, make another post.

[itinerants]

Hi Baldhair

Many thanks for the information. I knew about the Milan, Paris, Berlin and Tokyo recordings but the '62 Birdland and the '70 Slugs Saloon are new to me.

The 1989 recording I assume was the Mingus Big Band as Mingus himself died in '79 of course.

I've been suspicious about the John Foster connection - he wasn't one of Mingus' regulars as far as I'm aware, except for a few months in 1972.

I'd love to know the personnel for the Birdland and Slugs sessions, if you have that available.

The discography I have has several errors in it, but that's not unusual.

Thanks very much again.

[con-amca]

Lord's discog. gives:

26 Oct 1962 WADO radio b'cast "Birdland", NY
Ed Armour (t), Don Butterfield (tu), Charles McPherson (as),
Jaki Bayard (p), Mingus, Danny Richmond (d).
Pepper Adams (brt) is also present on some tracks.

31 Mar 1970 Live from "Slugs Saloon", NY
Bill Hardman (p), McPherson, Bayard, Mingus, Richmond.
There are two vols, Bop 043 and 044. "O.P" is on vol 2.

The 1989 session was indeed a memorial concert. From the Lincoln Centre, NY.

I was lucky to find you, itinerants. I haven't been an ABer all that long, and though I have a look at the music section occasionally I usually give up pretty quickly. There's so much dross. Hardly music. Still, it takes all sorts I suppose, and each to his own.

I am not a particular Mingus fan, though I do have a few tracks of his. I certainly admire his bass-playing. And I like McPherson, and Jimmy Knepper.

If you need any other discographical info. please post the question. My version of Lord's is the latest one, and though it has its drawbacks, it's pretty comprehensive.
I'll be only too pleased to help.

[itinerants]

Hi again Baldhair
Thanks very much indeed for this info.
I can update the dicography in my possession.

I've been trying to track down this info about OP for some years - it's one of my favourite tracks which I had on cassette. The cassette was lost and I'm trying to narrow down the options to trace which version - unfortunately the cassette didn't have line-up information or dates.

You've been very helpful. Thanks once again.

I've never come across Lord's. Sounds like an invaluable source of information.

I agree with you about Mcpherson, by the way. Superb alto player - possibly the most under-rated ever.

Best regards

[con-amca]

Very pleased to be of help, itinerants.

The discog. is Tom Lord's. The CD-ROM version is not cheap, currently US$330. I've been using it since version 3 - we're now on version 7. An updated version appears in November each year, just in time for Christmas. You pay the full price the first time you buy, after that you get it for half price. If you sell the previous version on to someone else, which I do for half what it cost me, it costs around �40 - �45 each year. I reckon it's worth it - I use it a lot. If you're interested the website is: www.lordisco.com - it doesn't cost anything to have a look.

I like McPherson, but I consider Sonny Criss to be even
more under-rated.

Good luck with your search.

[itinerants]

Thanks very much for the info.
You're obviously very keen.
I'm ashamed to say I know little of Sonny Criss - I don't have a single album of his, but I'll look out for him - and I'll check out the website.
Thanks again.