Jazz Composers Workshop

Jazz Composers Workshop
Studio album by Charles Mingus
Released	1955
Recorded	October 31, 1954 & January 30, 1955
Genre	Jazz
Length	41:25
Label	Savoy
Producer	Ozzie Cadena
Charles Mingus chronology
Jazz Composers Workshop (1954-55) The Jazz Experiments of Charlie Mingus (1955)

Jazz Composers Workshop is an album featuring jazz bassist Charles Mingus. It combines the earlier album Moods of Mingus with a Wally Cirillo session released earlier on the album Wally Cirillo & Bobby Scott. It was released on the Savoy label.^[1]

Reception

The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 2½ stars stating "The complex music on this LP finds bassist Charles Mingus looking toward contemporary classical music in some of the rather cool-toned arrangements. It was not until later in 1955 that he found the right combination of influences in which to express himself best but these slightly earlier performances have their moments".^[2]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]

Track listing

All compositions by Charles Mingus except as indicated

1. "Purple Heart" - 5:36
2. "Gregarian Chant" - 2:51
3. "Eulogy for Rudy Williams" - 6:22
4. "Tea for Two" (Irving Caesar, Vincent Youmans) - 6:19
5. "Smog L.A." (Wally Cirillo) - 3:14
6. "Level Seven" (Cirillo) - 4:17
7. "Transeason" (Cirillo) - 4:23
8. "Rose Geranium" (Cirillo) - 4:13
9. "Getting Together" - 4:41
10. "Body and Soul (Alternate Take 1)" - 3:07

• Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Hackensack, New Jersey on October 31, 1954 (tracks 1-4 & 9) and January 30, 1955 (tracks 5-8)
• Track 10 is only available on the 2000 reissue

Personnel

• Charles Mingus - bass
• John LaPorta - clarinet (tracks 1, 2, 4 & 9), alto saxophone (track 3)
• Teo Macero - tenor saxophone (tracks 2-9), baritone saxophone (track 1)
• George Barrow - tenor saxophone (track 1), baritone saxophone (tracks 2-4 & 9)
• Wally Cirillo (tracks 5-8), Mal Waldron (tracks 2-4 & 9) - piano
• Kenny Clarke (tracks 5-8), Rudy Nichols (tracks 1-4 & 9) - drums

References