Blues & Roots

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Blues & Roots was recorded on 4 February 1959 at Atlantic Studios in New York and released in 1960 on Atlantic. A year earlier, producer Nesuhi Ertegun had proposed making a complete blues record in the style of Haitian Fight Song. Some critics thought Mingus did not swing enough. Ertegun wanted to serve them a stream of soul music: churchy, bluesy, swinging and earthy.

Mingus hesitated, because he also wanted to do other things than just swing. Even so, he agreed. He surrounded himself with a large ensemble, including four saxophonists and two trombonists. Dannie Richmond played drums. DownBeat called the record important music that is worth listening to carefully. Q Magazine praised how Mingus drove his fellow musicians on with his bass playing and hoarse shouts of encouragement.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting (Mono)5:45Apple Music ↗
2. 2Cryin' Blues (Mono)5:03Apple Music ↗
3. 3Moanin' (Mono)7:59Apple Music ↗
4. 4Tensions (Mono)6:31Apple Music ↗
5. 5My Jelly Roll Soul (Mono)6:51Apple Music ↗
6. 6E's Flat Ah's Flat Too (Mono)6:44Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

See also

• Charles Mingus