This is one of the most overlooked albums in the Mingus legacy. It is from a relatively stable period musically and personally in Mingus' volatile life. The band is one of the longest he was able to keep together and lasted from 1956 through the latter part of 1958 with basically the same personnel except for the revolving door of pianists. Pianist were hard to keep in those days as they were always busy with backing singers of playing lucrative solo gigs. The personnel her is Clarence Shaw on trumpet, Shafi Hadi on alto and tenor saxophones, Jimmy Knepper on trombone and of course Dannie Richmond on drums. A last minute cancellation by Mingus' semi-regular pianist caused Mr. Mingus to call the then up and coming Bill Evans to play piano and he came in and sight-read the parts and nailed every tune. Bill is really the co-star on this date. Only one non-Mingus tune is featured and that is the beautiful Eubie Blake/Andy Razaf tune called "Memories of You" the rest of the six tunes are by Mingus. This is an album that should not be overloo0ked and is an important piece of Minugs' musical history. "East Coasting" is a wonderful musical experience.
Track Listing:
Memories of You.
Charles Mingus · East Coasting
East Coasting
Charles Mingus · East Coasting
West Coast Ghost
Charles Mingus · East Coasting
Celia
Charles Mingus · East Coasting
Conversation
Charles Mingus · East Coasting
Fifty-First Street Blues
Charles Mingus · East Coasting
Tubby
Gene Ammons/Sonny Stitt · Soul Summit
Sounds For Sid
Cannonball Adderley/Milt jackson · Things Are Getting Better
What's New?
Serge Chaloff · Boston Blow-Up
Body And Soul
Serge Chaloff · Boston Blow-Up
The Goof And I
Serge Chaloff · Blue Serge
Thanks For The Memory
Serge Chaloff · Blue Serge
All The Things You Are
Serge Chaloff · Blue Serge
Back To Back
Al Cohn · The Al Cohn Quintet
So Far So Good
Al Cohn · The Al Cohn Quintet
Winter
Al Cohn · The Al Cohn Quintet
How Deep Is The Ocean?
Al Cohn/John Coltrane/Zoot Sims/Hank Mobley · Tenor Conclave
Fuller's Blues
Joshua Bruneau · Bright Idea
The Owl Shop
Joshua Bruneau · Bright Idea
Art's Opus
Art Pepper · The Art Pepper Quartet
I Surrender Dear
Art Pepper · The Art Pepper Quartet
Diane
Art Pepper · The Art Pepper Quartet
Pepper Pot
Art Pepper · The Art Pepper Quartet
Besame Mucho
Art Pepper · The Art Pepper Quartet
Blues At Twilight
Art Pepper · The Art Pepper Quartet
Val's Pal.
Art Pepper · The Art Pepper Quartet
Little T.
Art Blakey · Ritual!
Exhibit A.
Art Blakey · Ritual!