Charles Mingus - Blues and Roots Charles Mingus

Blues & Roots, a classic session by Charles Mingus was selected by the New York Times critic Ben Ratliff as one of the 100 most important jazz recordings of all time. Featuring Jackie Mclean, John Handy, Booker Ervin, Pepper Adams, Jimmy Knepper, Horace Parlan, Mal Waldron and others.

"This record is unusual - it presents only one part of my musical world, the blues. A year ago, Nesuhi Ertegun (Atlantic Records) suggested that I record an entire blues album in the style of 'Haitian Fight Song (1957), 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."  Charles Mingus