Jazz Composers Workshop

Jazz Composers Workshop
Studio album by Charles Mingus
Released	April 1956[1]
Recorded	October 31, 1954 (#1-4, 9-10) January 30, 1955 (#5-8) Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack
Genre	Jazz
Length	41:25
Label	Savoy MG 12059
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.^[2]

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".^[3]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[3]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[4]

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" - 6:19 (Irving Caesar, Vincent Youmans)
5. "Smog L.A." - 3:14 (Wally Cirillo)
6. "Level Seven" - 4:17 (Cirillo)
7. "Transeason" - 4:23 (Cirillo)
8. "Rose Geranium" - 4:13 (Cirillo)
9. "Getting Together" - 4:41
10. "Body and Soul (Alternate Take 1)" - 3:07 On CD reissue

Personnel

• Charles Mingus - bass
• John LaPorta - clarinet (tracks 1, 2, 4, 9 and 10), alto saxophone (track 3)
• Teo Macero - tenor saxophone (tracks 2-10), baritone saxophone (track 1)
• George Barrow - tenor saxophone (track 1), baritone saxophone (tracks 2-4, 9 & 10)
• Wally Cirillo (tracks 5-8), Mal Waldron (tracks 2-4, 9 & 10) - piano
• Kenny Clarke (tracks 5-8), Rudy Nichols (tracks 1-4, 9 & 10) - drums

References