Charles Mingus – Pithecanthropus Erectus

Charles Mingus Jr. was an American jazz double bassist, pianist, composer and bandleader. A major proponent of collective improvisation, he is considered to be one of the greatest jazz musicians and composers in history, with a career spanning three decades and collaborations with other jazz legends such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Dannie Richmond, and Herbie Hancock. Pithecanthropus Erectus is a 1956 album, the first one  where he taught arrangements to his musicians by ear in lieu of putting the chords and arrangements in writing. The Penguin Guide to Jazz gave the album a maximum four-star rating and added it to its core collection, describing it as “One of the truly great modern jazz albums”. In the same review, “the all-in ensemble work” in parts of the first track, “Pithecanthropus Erectus”, is described as being “absolutely crucial to the development of free collective improvisation in the following decade”.

180 gram HQ Virgin Vinyl
Deluxe Gatefold Edition
Label: DOL
Cat. # DOL796HG