Search - Charles Mingus :: Me Myself an Eye / Something Like a Bird

Intense

J. A. Walrath | New York, NY | 10/28/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very intense CD. Unfortunately, the mix is not that good (I have a better copy that was made on my home cassette machine during the sessions, where you can hear all of the instruments!) and they could have picked better takes. Hopefully, some day they will remaster it and fix it because "Drums" shows that Mingus was going in a different direction and was still on fire, even when he was in the wheelchair! "Carolyn" and "Farwell" are two beautiful late ballads.

Paul Jeffrey is mistakenly credited as composer on all but one track. Mingus composed all of the tunes. I arranged and orchestrated all of the tunes except "Farwell", which was arranged and orchestrated by Jeffrey and an uncredited Ricky Ford.

Jack Walrath"

What can I say!

WSchultz | CA | 11/27/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Me, Myself an Eye was an amazing session. I've searched for years to get a copy, and finally it's on the "Oldies" label. Go figure.



I agree entirely with Jack Walrath (above) the mix isn't that great, but IMHO,it doesn't matter -- the ferocity and spontaneity of the session has been caught. This is hard music -- hard bop with electric overtones -- the kind of music for which I lived to hear three decades ago. Still knocks me out, it does. Swinging!



Here's a personnel list:



'Three Worlds Of Drums':

Ken Hitchcock - alto sax, soprano sax

Akira Ohmori - alto sax

Daniel Block - tenor sax

Michael Brecker - tenor sax

George Coleman - tenor sax

Ricky Ford - tenor sax

Pepper Adams - baritone sax

Ronnie Cuber - baritone sax

Craig Purpura - baritone sax

Randy Brecker - trumpet

Mike Davis - trumpet

Jack Walrath - trumpet

Jimmy Knepper - trombone

Slide Hampton - trombone

Larry Coryell - guitar

Ted Dunbar - guitar

Jack Wilkins - guitar

Bob Neloms - piano

Eddie Gomez - bass

George Mraz - bass

Joe Chambers - drums

Steve Gadd - drums

Dannie Richmond - drums

Sammy Figueroa - percussion

Ray Mantilla - percussion

Paul Jeffrey - conductor



'Devil Woman', 'Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting' and 'Carolyn "Keki" Mingus':

Ken Hitchcock - alto sax, soprano sax

Lee Konitz - alto sax

Yoshiaki Malta - alto sax

Akira Ohmori - alto sax

Daniel Block - tenor sax

Michael Brecker - tenor sax

Ricky Ford - tenor sax

John Tank - tenor sax

Pepper Adams - baritone sax

Ronnie Cuber - baritone sax

Craig Purpura - baritone sax

Randy Brecker - trumpet

Mike Davis - trumpet

Jack Walrath - trumpet

Jimmy Knepper - trombone

Keith O'Quinn - trombone

Larry Coryell - guitar

Ted Dunbar - guitar

Jack Wilkins - guitar

Bob Neloms - piano

Eddie Gomez - bass

Joe Chambers - drums

Dannie Richmond - drums

Paul Jeffrey - conductor



Jack, thanks for all the notes you've played. Next time around, I'll buy the tequila.



Very best-

-Bill (from Richard's Lounge, Lakewood, NJ)"