Overview
“Mingus at Antibes” is an album that contains the 1960 live performance by the quintet of Charles Mingus, an American jazz double bassist, pianist, composer, and bandleader.
Commentary
The album was recorded at the Jazz à Juan festival in Juan-les-Pins, Antibes, southeastern France on July 13th, 1960.
It was originally issued by BYG Records under the title “Charles Mingus Live With Eric Dolphy” in Japan in 1974. It was re-released by Atlantic Records in more complete form as a double album with the title “Mingus at Antibes” in the United States in 1976.
It was performed by the piano-less and three-horned quintet: the regular quartet of Charles Mingus (bass), Ted Curson (trumpet), Eric Dolphy (alto saxophone, bass clarinet) and Dannie Richmond (drums) with Booker Ervin (tenor saxophone).
Though it is basically piano-less, Bud Powell plays the piano on the standard number “I’ll Remember April”, and Mingus himself plays some piano on “Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting” and “Better Git Hit in Your Soul”.
It is an excellent live album that features Mingus quintet’s heavy and intensive ensemble based on gospel and blues, and a jam session including fiery solo improvisations. Dolphy’s solos are particularly impressive.
