Presents CM is unmissable. The cool and deadly b-line funk of Folk Forms gives way to a New Orleans funeral march; the Original Faubus Fables is irresistible, knockabout antifa, straight to the head of a dingus; What Love showcases brilliant interplay between Mingus and Dolphy; All The Things rages freely about Mental Health.

Pre Bird is from 1960 but ostensibly before Mingus heard Charlie Parker.
A host of stellar players — including Eric Dolphy, Booker Ervin, Max Roach, Marcus Belgrave, Slide Hampton, Yusef Lateef — in variously large ensembles, reading mostly tight, post-Duke scores.
It kicks off with a startling mash-up of Take the A Train, in the left channel, and Exactly Like You in the right. ( On the flip, Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me is likewise bundled with I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart.)
The great Mingus art songs Eclipse — hymning black-white relationships — and Weird Nightmare are here. Apparently vocalist Lorraine Cusson fluffed the last line of Nightmare — singing ‘Bring me a heart with a love of gold’ instead of ‘Bring me a love with a heart of gold’ — but Mingus was so happy with the take, he let it go.

A fine first survey of classics recorded for Prestige, Cadet and Elektra, with some magnificent rarities and an essential unissued folk-funk recovery, and a decent booklet.

Bouncy Lady! The first of their six Fantasy albums via Wayne Henderson’s At Home Productions. Tasty jazz-funk and soul from the Portland crew.

More lovely funk, Latin jazz and soul, bridging the Dust Yourself Off and Joyous albums. Kicks off with a bumping collaboration with Wayne Henderson and Side Effect, much sampled — and features Ghettos Of The Mind.

The big band, with Frank Rosolino, Phil Woods, James Moody and the rest, and pianist Lalo Schifrin leading the way through his compositions. Plus four live Quintet tracks, from 1961, the year before.

A compilation of the best of their Westbounds.

‘Classic Vinyl Series.’