What Are You Listening To?

[SteveO]

JONI MITCHELL - MINGUS (1979)

I wasn't sure where to put this album post - jazz or folk forum ? I decided folk as the album is a bit of both and this post would be noticed moreso than in the jazz forum. This is one of the most unusual collaborations in music - Folk Goddess meets Jazz Giant !!!

A few months before the passing of jazz legend Charles Mingus, Joni Mitchell approached him to ask if she could work with him on an album. There must have been a mutual admiration club here because Mingus agreed. So the collaboration of sorts began with an ailing Mingus in the studio as an arranger and director of sorts. Unfortunately he passed away before the final cut of the album was completed.
What we have here is a sort of Mingus Tribute album weaved by Mitchell and three members of the jazz fusion super group - Weather Report along with keyboard icon Herbie Hancock. Joni writes all the lyrics to these original jazz instrumentals and the outcome is a joyous yet respectfull salute to Charles Mingus !

All lyrics by Joni Mitchell; music by Mitchell, except where indicated
1."Happy Birthday 1975" (Rap) – 0:57
2."God Must Be a Boogie Man" – 4:35
3."Funeral" (Rap) – 1:07
4."A Chair in the Sky" (Charles Mingus) – 6:42
5."The Wolf That Lives in Lindsey" – 6:35
6."I's a Muggin'" (Rap) – 0:07
7."Sweet Sucker Dance" – 8:04 (Mingus)
8."Coin in the Pocket" (Rap) – 0:11
9."The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines" (Mingus) – 3:21
10."Lucky" (Rap) – 0:04
11."Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" (Mingus) – 5:37

Personnel:

•Joni Mitchell - guitar, vocals
•Jaco Pastorius - bass, horn arrangement on "The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines"
•Wayne Shorter - soprano saxophone
•Herbie Hancock - electric piano
•Peter Erskine - drums
•Don Alias - congas
•Emil Richards - percussion

I have always admired and loved this unique collaboration ! I bought it on vinyl as soon as it came out ! My rating - 5/5 (AllMusic rating 3.5/5...what do they know...)

The album cover below is one of many paintings of Mingus by Mitchell ! True admiration from Joni !