New York, NY (January 22, 2018)—A pillar of jazz music history, Charles Mingus was one of the all-time great jazz bass players, as well as an innovative composer, bandleader and pianist. On February 2, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Charles Mingus: Live At Montreux 1975 on 2CD and Digital Formats.

Having played with the likes of Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, and Duke Ellington (his idol), Mingus pulled elements from every music genre he experienced, tracing gospel, blues, New Orleans jazz, swing, Latin music, and even modern classical. Recorded at the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival on July 20, 1975, this 2CD set features extended live versions of “Devil Blues,” “Free Cell Block F Tis Nazi U S,” and “Sue’s Changes” from Mingus’ 1974 Changes One and Changes Two albums. The line-up includes Mingus (bass), Don Pullen (piano), Dannie Richmond (drums), George Adams (tenor sax), and Jack Walrath (trumpet). The set also boasts stylized interpretations of two standards: “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat,” on which he is joined by the great Gerry Mulligan on baritone sax and Benny Bailey on trumpet, and “Take The ‘A’ Train.”

Among his many accomplishments, Charles Mingus was awarded the GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as inducted into the Jazz at Lincoln Center, Nesuhi Ertegun Jazz Hall Of Fame. He embarked on a solo career in the 1950s, as well as launching his own record label. After a brief withdrawal from music in the late sixties, he returned to the business and continued to thrive until he was struck with Lou Gehrig’s disease in 1977, which left him unable to play bass. However, he continued to compose until his passing in 1979.

TRACK LISTING:

Disc 1:
1.) Devil Blues
2.) Free Cell Block F Tis Nazi U S
3.) Sue’s Changes

Disc 2:
1.) Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
2.) Take The “A” Train

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