Charles Mingus - The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady [180g]

Charles Mingus transformed disaster into masterpiece. Recorded January 20, 1963 by an eleven-piece band, The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady comprises a single continuous composition partially written as a ballet, divided into four tracks and six movements. The album is widely regarded as one of the greatest jazz records of all time and frequently ranks highly on lists of the best albums of all time. AllMusic awarded it five stars, describing it as one of the greatest achievements in orchestration by any composer in jazz history. Released on Impulse! Records, the album features liner notes by Mingus and his psychotherapist Dr. Edmund Pollock.

Mingus assembled an ensemble including pianist Jaki Byard, classical guitarist Jay Berliner, and stalwart drummer Dannie Richmond. The composition blends jazz with classical music, African rhythms, and Spanish themes. Alto saxophonist Charlie Mariano's overdubbed solos weave through dramatic contrasts and lush expressionism. Bluesy muted trumpets evoke Duke Ellington, while passages of collective improvisation conjure New Orleans jazz. Co-orchestrator Bob Hammer refined the arrangement during a six-week Village Vanguard residency before the single-day recording session.

This Verve Acoustic Sounds Series edition features 180g audiophile vinyl mastered all-analog from the original master tapes and pressed at Quality Record Pressings. Housed in a tip-on gatefold jacket, the pressing captures every dimension of Mingus's orchestration with stunning clarity.

• Format: 180g Audiophile LP
• Standout tracks: "Solo Dancer," "Duet Solo Dancers," "Group Dancers," "Trio And Group Dancers"
• Pressing details: Verve Acoustic Sounds Series, audiophile, all-analog mastering from original master tapes, pressed at Quality Record Pressings, tip-on gatefold
• Genre/style: Jazz, Avant-Garde Jazz, Third Stream, Orchestral Jazz
• UPC: 602435862156

Mingus's greatest orchestral achievement captures one continuous ballet composition on audiophile 180g vinyl from Verve Acoustic Sounds.

* The Spotify track list may not exactly represent the tracks and audio of this LP edition.

Track List:

Side A:

1. Solo Dancer (Stop! Look! And Listen, Sinner Jim Whitney!)
2. Duet Solo Dancers (Hearts' Beat And Shades In Physical Embraces)
3. Group Dancers ((Soul Fusion) Freewoman And Oh, This Freedom's Slave Cries)

Side B:

1. Trio And Group Dancers (Stop! Look! And Sing Songs Of Revolutions!)
2. Single Solos And Group Dance (Saint And Sinner Join In Merriment On Battle Front)
3. Group And Solo Dance (Of Love, Pain, And Passioned Revolt, Then Farewell, My Beloved, Til It's Freedom Day)