JAZZ ICONS: CHARLES MINGUS LIVE IN '64

Series 2; Featuring Eric Dolphy and Clifford Jordan

Charles Mingus

Jazz Icons: Charles Mingus showcases three exceptional concerts performed in April 1964 featuring his most celebrated lineup: Jaki Byard (piano), Dannie Richmond (drums), Johnny Coles (trumpet), Clifford Jordan (tenor sax) and the great Eric Dolphy (alto sax, flute and bass clarinet). Recorded within an eight-day span, less than three months before Dolphys death, the three concerts showcase Mingus's visionary leadership and the bands incredible depth and diversity with unique performances and arrangements of classics including So Long Eric and the groundbreaking Meditations On Integration.

Foreword by Andrew Homzy: "Perhaps even more than Ellington, Mingus embraced all of life and death. And this video captures manybut not allof those emotional states and nuances which defy anthologising. From the certifiable masterpiece, Meditations On Integration, to the 12-bar theme of So Long Eric, Mingus demands of himself and his musicians the highest artistic attainment. Because this DVD presents several versions of Minguss 1964 concert repertoire, we not only hear, but see how Mingus works with his musicianspresenting them with unexpected challenges and, in return, dealing with the unexpected challenge of having to continue his series of concerts without his trumpeter, Johnny Coles, who was rushed to the hospital in Paris in mid-performance. The concerts continuedincluding performances of Meditations On Integrationwith pianist Jacki Byard valiantly playing the trumpet parts on the piano. With Mingus, everything is part of the musicbe it dealing with his bass sliding across the floor or rehearsing in public. So perhaps an overview of Minguss greatness can be served by this DVDif not an anthology, then certainly a compelling document that captures a portion of his art."

The 7 volume Jazz Icons Series 2 features classic performances from some of the greatest legends of the past 50 years, captured in their prime in various locations from the 1950s through the 1970s. The DVDs are transferred from the original masters, and each DVD features a 24-page booklet with an essay written by an authoritative jazz historian as well as rare and unseen photos. The series is produced with the full support and cooperation of the artists or their estates, many of whom are contributing rare personal photographs, memorabilia, and forewords. These concerts have never been officially released on home video, and in many cases, the material was never broadcast. We are very proud to present all of these DVDs.

"This is like the discovery of a bonanza of previously unknown manuscripts of plays by William Shakespeare." Nat Hentoff, Wall Street Journal.

"These historic DVDs are among the most important visual/aural documents to be mined from the ever-yielding, seemingly hidden jazz treasury. Now, most importantly, they are available to the entire world." Ira Gitler, co-author, The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (Oxford)

"Considering the almost alarming proliferation of jazz DVDs on the market today, and their extremely variable quality, it is good to know that Reelin In The Years can be trusted to bring viewers nothing but the best in content and presentation." Dan Morgenstern, Director, Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University; author, Living With Jazz (Pantheon Books)

Contents:

Belgium 1964:
1. So Long Eric
2. Peggys Blue Skylight
3. Meditations On Integration

Norway 1964:
1. So Long Eric
2. Orange Was The Color Of Her Dress, Then Blue Silk
3. Parkeriana
4. Take The A Train

Sweden 1964:
1. So Long Eric
2. Meditations On Integration

Features:

24-page booklet
Liner notes by Rob Bowman
Foreword by Andrew Homzy
Afterword by Sue Mingus
Cover photo by Guy Le Querrec
Booklet photos by Lee Tanner, Jan Perssson, Riccardo Schwamenthal
Memorabilia collage

Musicians