Charles Mingus - 'Debut Rarities, Vols. 1 - 4'

Debut Records was an independent record label that was founded in 1952 by Charles Mingus, his wife Celia (Zaentz) Mingus, and drummer Max Roach.

Vol. 1 combines material recorded by the Charles Mingus Octet on October 28, 1953 (tracks one through six, five of which were originally released on a 10" LP as Jazz Workshop: Autobiography in Jazz), by the Jimmy Knepper Quintet on July 10, 1957 (tracks seven through 11, released on a 10" LP as New Faces), and three alternates from the Knepper date.

Vol. 2 reaches back toward the very beginnings of the Charles Mingus discography.  Although he had recorded as a sideman and leader during the late '40s, the April 1951 duets with pianist Spaulding Givens a.k.a. Nadi Qamar are remarkable glimpses of Mingus actively participating in recording sessions for a label that he co-founded.

Vol. 3 is from a session or sessions that took place in New York City during September 1957, and features the Shafi Hadi Sextet. Hadi (born Curtis Porter in Philadelphia in 1929) was an alto and tenor saxophonist who worked with Charles between the years 1956-1959.  He is heard in the company of trumpeter Clarence Shaw, baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams, pianists Wade Legge or Wynton Kelly, bassists Charles Mingus or Henry Grimes, and drummer Dannie Richmond. What you get here is a progress report from innovative improvisers who were laying the groundwork for the stunning advancements in modern jazz that would take place over the next decade.

This is an intriguing chapter from Ming's adventuresome Jazz Workshop years. In the Mingus chronology, it lands right after his Tijuana Moods and East Coasting albums and just before A Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry.

Vol. 4 is a rare slice of work featuring vocalists in the lead. Backing is by Mingus-led combos on all tracks, but the presence of singers makes for a great change in the music.  This is not a sleepy, torch jazz vocal style, but much more in the inventive style of singing that would crop up on a handful of Mingus dates from later years – heard here in much more experimental modes. Jackie Paris' work is an especially great revelation – as it's a real contrast to some of his straighter later stuff – but The Gordons are great too, the vocal group from which Honi Gordon sprang to do her solo album for Prestige. Bob Benton sings on a few numbers too – and other players include Lee Konitz on alto, Paige Brook on flute, Hank Jones on piano, and Max Roach on drums.

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