Charles Mingus did not perform on the final sessions he made for Atlantic toward the end of his life. Too ill with ALS to pick up his bass, he nonetheless was a powerful presence in the studio. The arrangements and orchestrations were realized by trumpeter Jack Walrath based on Mingus's tapes and piano sketches. The huge band can get a bit unwieldy, and the arrangements, which feature a solo from Larry Coryell, do tend to pander a bit to the fusion audience. In spite of these drawbacks, the half-hour "Three Worlds of Drums" is great, overdone though it may be. - Stuart Kremsky
Tracklist
1. Three Worlds of Drums (30:22)
2. Devil Woman (9:25)
3. Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting (9:51)
4. Carolyn "Keki" Mingus (7:46)
PEPPER ADAMS baritone sax
MICHAEL BRECKER tenor saxophone
JOE CHAMBERS drums
GEORGE COLEMAN tenor saxophone
LARRY CORYELL guitar
RONNIE CUBER baritone saxophone
TED DUNBARguitar
RICKY FORD tenor saxophone
EDDIE GOMEZ bass
SLIDE HAMPTONtrombone
JIMMY KNEPPER trombone
LEE KONITZ alto saxophone
CHARLES MINGUSbass
DANNIE RICHMOND drums
JACK WALRATH trumpet
JACK WILKINS guitar
PAUL JEFFREY conductor
RAY MANTILLA percussion
BOB NELOMS piano
DANIEL BLOCK tenor saxophone
RANDY BRECKER trumpet
SAMMY FIGUEROA percussion
STEVE GADD drums
KENNETH HITCHCOCK alto saxophone, soprano saxophone
YOSHIAKI MALTA alto saxophone
GEORGE MRAZ bass
KEITH O'QUINN trombone
AKIRA OHMORI alto saxophone
CRAIG PURPURE baritone saxophone
JOHN TANK tenor saxophone
KENNY WERNER piano
MICHAEL DAVIS trumpet
All arrangements and orchestrations were realized by Jack Walrath
Recorded Jan 19 & 23, 1978 at Atlantic Studios, New York, N.Y.
Atlantic 75679 3068-2