Charles Mingus, Town Hall Concert

Recorded in April 1964, with woodwind player Eric Dolphy in the group, this live recording was retroactively made a memorial to Dolphy, who died a few months later. For example, a tune that bassist Mingus announces as "Meditations" is labeled "Praying with Eric"; the other track (both are lengthy) is titled "So Long Eric." The rest of the band includes trumpeter Johnny Coles, tenor saxman Clifford Jordan, pianist Jaki Byard and drummer Danny Richmond. Despite the fact that he had not long to live, Dolphy certainly is in fine form here. He turns in very inventive alto work on "So Long Eric," a blues, which is particularly notable because he sometimes had a tendency to improvise repetitively. He stars on bass clarinet and flute during "Praying with Eric," an extended but solidly and imaginatively arranged piece. Dolphy's flute playing is particularly exquisite but actually, everyone sounds impressive — Coles solos economically, but improvises plenty of fresh ideas; Byard runs the gamut, using heavily chordal work and substantive single note lines; Jordan turns in powerhouse performances. And you can count on Richmond to play authoritatively and intelligently, as he does here. Mingus 'rhythm section and solo work are inspired and cleanly articulated, making this a very satisfying album from start to finish.