Berry Gordy hedged his bets in 1962.Though the founder of Motown Records had his first #1 Billboard pop and R&B hit with the Marvelettes' Please Mr. Postman in late 1961, the following year was dry. To diversify and reach a range of radio stations, Gordy formed a bunch of other labels, including Gordy, Mel-o-dy, Divinity and Workshop, a jazz label that tapped into local musicians. Gordy knew the Detroit jazz market well, having opened the 3D Record Mart, a jazz record store in the 1950s that went belly up.
In September 1963, Pepper Adams and Thad Jones teamed up to record Pepper Adams Plays the Compositions of Charlie Mingus on Gordy's Workshop label. Adams was from Detroit and Jones was from nearby Pontiac. According to the liner notes, Mingus, Adams and Teddy Charles chose the songs for the album, a process that took a few months.
The songs recorded on September 9 were Fables of Faubus, Black Light, Song With Orange, Carolyn, Incarnation [Reincarnation of a Lovebird] and Strollin' Honies [Nostalgia in Times Square]. The band that day featured Thad Jones (tp), Pepper Adams (bar) Hank Jones (p) Paul Chambers (b) and Dannie Richmond (d). Thad Jones arranged Fables of Faubus, Adams arranged Black Light and Incarnation, Mingus arranged Carolyn and Strollin' Honies, and Teddy Charles arranged Song With Orange.
On September 12, three more songs were added: Better Get It in Your Soul, Portrait and Haitian Fight Song. The ensemble included Thad Jones (tp), Benny Powell (tb), Charles McPherson (as), Zoot Sims (ts), Pepper Adams (bar), Hank Jones (p), Bob Cranshaw (b) and Dannie Richmond (d). It should be noted that Strollin' Honies [Nostalgia in Times Square] appears in John Cassavetes' film Shadows (1958).
According to the liner notes, Portrait was arranged by Thad Jones. I'm guessing that Mingus handled the arrangements for Better Get It in Your Soul and Haitian Fight Song.
Adams and Thad Jones's interpretations of Mingus's music are enormously sensitive and commanding, a feeling that comes only from knowing the bassist and composer well and understanding his art. One of my favorites on the album is Carolyn, which was written by Mingus specifically for this recording session in tribute to his daughter, Carolyn Keikki Mingus. [Photo above of Dannie Richmond courtesy of Drummerworld]
Charles Mingus died in 1979; Pepper Adams died in 1986.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Pepper Adams Plays the Compositions of Charlie Mingus (Fresh Sound) here.
You'll also find the album at Spotify.
JazzWax clip: Here's Carolyn...
