Album of the Day

A legendary composer, bandleader and bassist, Charles Mingus had many albums to his credit but few that featured the intimate setting of THREE. As its title suggests, there are just two others here – pianist Hampton Hawes and drummer Dannie Richmond – but it's the quality of the players, not the quantity, that counts. Recorded in New York City one July day in 1957, the Jubilee set is pretty down-to-earth by Mingus standards, hewing closely to melody and giving each instrumentalist space to make his mark. Along with fine versions of such familiar tunes as “Summertime” and “Laura,” there are a pair of Mingus originals (“Back Home Blues” and “Dizzy Moods”) and one penned by Hawes. THREE has just been reissued, and it's a worthy addition to any jazz collection.