Charles Mingus

Titled in honor of Charles Mingus' good friend and mentor Oscar Pettiford this swing chart opens with the two tenors followed by all the saxes and finally the entire ensemble. Whether you play this at a medium tempo or as ablazing burner the result is the same – a unique-sounding chart that swings like crazy.

Written in a medium-tempo swing style the saxes take the lead in the beginning answered by screaming brass figures. Soprano sax and a solo trombone engage in an ongoing bluesy dialogue interspersed with swingin' passages for the entire band. All masterfully arranged by Sy Johnson.