One of 30 records that appeared in 10 years by Charles Mingus, this album is remarkable. Mingus is a fantastic bassist, and his skills are beautifully high-lighted on this album. Like Ellington, Mingus was a band leader that wrote compositions for certain players. You can see this come through wonderfully well in the chemistry the musicians seem to have together through out the album. Special props to Mal Waldron, who totally rocked the majority of this album when Mingus wasn't in spot-light.
My sources claim that Pithecanthropus Erectus is tale about the rise of mankind and it's eventual downfall. This could explain that I consider the sweeping mood-swings .
"Haightian Fight song" begins with a sweet little base solo that one could never deny it's greatness. It creates a fantastic build up which is slow and soulful. This track is significantly less suspenseful than track 1, and the use of pauses and breaks in the music is less apparent. The tempo can seem really random at about 3 minutes in, but it somehow works out nicely through out the song. Another great performance by Waldron, where his piano sounds like the right hand is a drunk butterfly and the left hand a weight lifter hammering away at the chords. The song has great swing and ends as it begins with the a similar melody. This song would be absolutely mind blowing to see live, and i am jealous of the handful of people enjoying the performance. I can't believe this album was made in 1956...
Overall, when I think this album I think of a jazz version of the garage rock mentality. Obviously, this album came before garage rock. Either way, the garage-rock anger is replaced by a bluesy sadness, and the plaid is replaced by most likely sophisticated black turtle necks. Overall, it is an exceptional album that i suggest for the following life situations; angry heart break, sunday nights, rainstorms, drinking whisky, and mood swings.
