Mingus gets down to the roots of the matter

Mingus gets down to the roots of the matter
On 4 February 1959 bassist Charles Mingus took with a group of top class jazz musicians into the Atlantic Records studio to record a "barrage of soul music: churchy, blues, swinging, earthy" to quote his own words, and the result is the magnificent "Blues and Roots", an album which gets me shouting and moaning myself whenever I listen to it (which, I have to admit, is quite often!).

Mingus magnificus Ah Um

Mingus magnificus Ah um
I wonder how many other jazz musicians would have invited their therapists to write liner notes for their albums? Charles Mingus was a unique and brave jazz musician, and the tribute to his qualities by his therapist is both fitting and insightful.