Holy Ghost

In my opinion, I have the record, but its not my go-to Mingus by any stretch; recommend the Candid's, Bethlehem's, Early Atlantic's, Impulses' ,the Columbia's. Guess is, why start to turn on your friend to Mingus with this record? And I don't want to say that 70's Mingus is not worth hearing; some of my favs are tucked in there like the Changes albums, but start your friend on the route to the classics; don't drop him off and think he'll figure it out, if you get my drift.

I think I only heard one chirp for the excellent Expectations; make it two: get it if you don't have it already.

MG, On the contrary, I see Jackie's name anywhere on a BN record, whether as a sideman or his own, generates a level of excitement, meaning that he's there, get the record. Hard to explain I guess, but ordinary records by other leaders with Jackie Mac lifted to good, great, sometimes extraordinary records, if that makes sense. He carries that aura about him that gets things exciting anywhere in the BN era, for me at least, On the other hand, yes, he can dominate a leader date that's not his own and make it his date, and I don't think that's what his intentions were, for example Jack Wilson's Easterly Winds, in effect was a JMac record ( my opinion, of course). Addendum: Those "ordinary" records are usually pretty sharp anyways, I buy them because I like them with or without JMac, so I didn't mean to imply that they're shabby because JMac isn't there; however, Jackie sometimes makes those records even appear more exciting just by seeing his name on the jacket; he always brought something to the table that made things more intense, uneasy, unpredictable: Leeway for example, a good record, but Jackie made it a must have Lee date for me, not because of Lee (who I adore) but the edginess that Jackie delivers; or even in organ combos, like Open House/Plain Talk (which which turned me on to J Smith) can exemplify his dominance on a situation. Free, straight ahead, in between all that, he was the go-to guy.

Agree With Chewy Exception, at least when I saw his name as leader or sideman, Jackie. Otherwise, and if any of these other great musicians have already been mentioned... Victor Sproles Ronnie Mathews Sonny Greenwich George Benson Melvin Sparks Charles Tollivor Lamont Jackson Karl Berger Scott Holt Hugh Walker Harold Alexander Marvin Cabell...