Charles Mingus Sextet w.Eric Dolphy - Cornell 1964

"fables of faubus" is epic! goddamn.

haven't heard this yet, but it's cool that mingus' widow is putting all this unreleased live stuff out. love this band on "The Great Concert" and some other 1964 bootlegs -- Jaki Byard! That guy is incredible.

Is "Fables of Faubus" the same as "Original Faubus Fables" from Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus? I love that song, amazingly sort of because of the vocals.

I think this one has no vocals. But otherwise it's the same song.
Jaki Byard is indeed the man.

the first song - "AFTW You" - is jaki biyard solo piano (not really familiar with him - but wowser he goes off, it's incredible.

there's no vocals on fables of faubus...this version is pretty wild and all over the place, it's great, but i've not heard the vers. you're talking about and i'd imagine this one could be quite different.

Sometimes I get the main horn line from FoF stuck in my head when I'm trying to fall asleep, it's very soothing.

fables of faubus is such a great song. cant wait to hear this.

The lyrics add a lot to the song:

Oh, Lord, don't let 'em shoot us!
Oh, Lord, don't let 'em stab us!
Oh, Lord, don't let 'em tar and feather us!
Oh, Lord, no more swastikas!
Oh, Lord, no more Ku Klux Klan!

Name me someone who's ridiculous, Dannie.
Governor Faubus!
Why is he so sick and ridiculous?
He won't permit integrated schools.

Then he's a fool! Boo! Nazi Fascist supremists!
Boo! Ku Klux Klan (with your Jim Crow plan)

Name me a handful that's ridiculous, Dannie Richmond.
Faubus, Rockefeller, Eisenhower
Why are they so sick and ridiculous?

Two, four, six, eight:
They brainwash and teach you hate.
H-E-L-L-O, Hello.

Kinda goofy, in a way ("H-E-L-L-O"), but that tounge-in-cheek vibe barely conceals the anger simmering underneath it.

(You probably know this, but Faubus was the governor of Arkansas in the late-50s and opposed desegregation. He sent the Nat'l Guard to prevent black children from attending high school in Little Rock).

ok i just found this at work... sounds great so far.

There was a used copy of this at Academy Records last week. I already had two out-of-print things in hand and couldn't afford to add the Mingus. But I am for sure buying it soon.

Is it selling at the price of 2 full price CDs or something less?

I have Fables of Faubus in my head very often as well. Particularly the "Why's he so sick? And ridiculous!" part.
Funny though, I didn't realize there were two recent sets from around this time coming out. I bought the 1965 UCLA set on Saturday. But hey, now I'm excited that there's even MORE newly released Mingus material to get! Not that I've gotten around to playing the UCLA set yet...

There's a fairly entertaining video on youtube where a group plays the tune while a fellow, well, tells a fable of Faubus, I guess. http://youtube.com/watch?v=V6PsOwFvHks

I didn't know Wallace Shawn played trombone?

Cornell feels like less of a struggle than UCLA, what with the latter's false starts and eventual dismissal of half the band from the stage until they can figure out how to play "Once There Was a Holding Corporation Called Old America." When they do, though, it's glorious. The band then celebrates with a magnificently ramshackle victory lap around "Muskrat Ramble." Cornell is a happy event all the way through. I'm glad I don't have to pick one over the other.

And Mingus Presents Mingus is a must-own. As is Right Now! Live at the Jazz Workshop, which contains still other versions of "Fables" and "Meditation."

Sue Mingus' book, Tonight at Noon, is also a great remembrance of Mingus.

This is incredible.

best record released in 2007? very good chance.

I put the UCLA one at the top of my Jackin' Pop ballot last year.

ATFW=Art Tatum, Fats Waller

Re: live discs of the Dolphy/Byard line up, which volume of Mingus In Europe is the one to get?

The Champs Elysses record is fantastic. I guess I'm getting this one, too.

Just got this. It's great!

just got this as well, and i agree -- totally great. loose, fun, passionate, wildly ambitious -- all of Mingus' best qualities on two discs. the madcap "Take the A Train" is worth the price of admission alone. this may just be the best representation of mingus' 64 band out there. and there's some stiff competition!

This is a phenomenal record. But I think I prefer the Paris 1964 date -- it's more agitated, threatening to go off the rails.

best record released in 2007? very good chance.

-- M@tt He1ges0n, Tuesday, August 14, 2007 11:32 PM (2 months ago) Bookmark Link

i don't know if there's still anything better

i want this :(

yeah it may be a toss-up between the paris show and this one -- cornell is more rollicking and fun, whereas paris sounds darker, more malevolent. depends on the mood you're in i suppose. man, though, there are some awesome performances from this era ...

haha, i see i already mentioned this in this thread, but it bears repeating -- the "Take The A-Train" from this show is OFF DA HOOK. Yeehaw!

It is. And Paris = malevolent, Cornell = rollicking is OTM. The German date on that tour (I forget which city) is an almost perfect balance of both.

Also: Jitterbug Waltz here is awesome. It's all awesome. Does Mingus do that song elsewhere? Don't think I've heard it on any other albums ...