Description
The leader’s bass line kicks off “Folk Forms No. 1”, followed by Dolphy outlining the melody, and then joined by Curson. A simple riff develops into a lively New Orleans funeral march that’s developed for 12 minutes. “Original Faubus Fables” is serious in intent — a political attack on segregation governor Faubus — but Mingus and Richmond’s singing is difficult to listen to with a straight face. Still, this doesn’t distract from the wonderful music. Again and again, the elasticity of the sound is fascinating, at once spacious with the bass and drums balanced against the brass and then noisy, with the horns wailing and crying. The last two pieces, “What Love?” and the outrageously titled “All the Things You Could Be by Now if Sigmund Freud’s Wife Was Your Mother”, are much looser, bordering on free jazz. The album accomplishes what the best of Mingus accomplishes: the perfect tension between jazz played as an ensemble and jazz played as totally free.
2. Original Faubus Fables
2. All The Things You Could Be By Now If Sigmund Freud’s Wife Was Your Mother