Blues & Roots

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: "This record is unusual&mdash; it presents only one part of my musical world, the blues. A year ago, Nesuhi Ertegün suggested that I record an entire blues album in the style of "Haitian Fight Song" (in Atlantic LP 1260), because some people, particularly critics, were saying I didn't swing enough. He wanted to give them a barrage of soul music: churchy, blues, swinging, earthy. I thought it over. I was born swinging and clapped my hands in church as a little boy, but I've grown up and I like to do things other than just swing. But blues can do more than just swing. So I agreed."

- Charles Mingus

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

 * 1) "Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting" – 5:39
 * 2) "Cryin' Blues" – 4:58
 * 3) "Moanin – 8:01
 * 4) "Tensions" – 6:27
 * 5) "My Jelly Roll Soul" – 6:47
 * 6) "E's Flat Ah's Flat Too" – 6:37

The 1998 Rhino CD reissue included these additional tracks:

All tracks composed by Charles Mingus. Recorded February 4, 1959, at Atlantic Studios in New York City.
 * 1) "Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting"  – 6:59 – alternate take
 * 2) "Tensions" – 5:18 – alternate take
 * 3) "My Jelly Roll Soul" – 11:25 – alternate take
 * 4) "E's Flat Ah's Flat Too" – 6:47 – alternate take

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