Blues & Roots is an album by Charles Mingus, recorded in 1959 and released on the Atlantic label in 1960. It has been reissued on CD by both Atlantic and Rhino.
Inspiration Mingus explained the origins of this record in the album's liner notes:
Reception Q Magazine (7/93, p. 110) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...at his best he could drive his fellow musicians onwards and upwards with big bass playing and hoarse exhortations. Blues & Roots contains six servings of this brilliance..." DownBeat (1960) - 4 Stars - Very Good - "...vital and important music...[Mingus] is outstanding in his solo work...this is something worth careful and thorough listening..."
Track listing "Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting" – 5:39 "Cryin' Blues" – 4:58 "Moanin – 8:01 "Tensions" – 6:27 "My Jelly Roll Soul" – 6:47 "E's Flat Ah's Flat Too" – 6:37
The 1998 Rhino CD reissue included these additional tracks:
"Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting" – 6:59 – alternate take "Tensions" – 5:18 – alternate take "My Jelly Roll Soul" – 11:25 – alternate take "E's Flat Ah's Flat Too" – 6:47 – alternate take All tracks composed by Charles Mingus. Recorded February 4, 1959, at Atlantic Studios in New York City.
Personnel Charles Mingus – bass John Handy – alto saxophone Jackie McLean – alto saxophone Booker Ervin – tenor saxophone Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone Jimmy Knepper – trombone Willie Dennis – trombone Dannie Richmond – drums Horace Parlan – piano, except for on "E's Flat Ah's Flat Too" Mal Waldron – piano on "E's Flat Ah's Flat Too" Nesuhi Ertegun – producer Tom Dowd – recording engineer
References
Sources Sleeve notes to Atlantic Records CD reissue of Blues & Roots (Atlantic SD-1305-2)