CHARLES MINGUS — Pithecanthropus Erectus (review)

CHARLES MINGUS — Pithecanthropus Erectus album cover Album · 1956 · Hard Bop Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
Sean Trane
One of Mingus’ early albums where he shows some uncanny songwriting talent, and one of the earlier example of creative artwork sleeve designing. Released in 56 on the Etlantic Labal, Mingus doesn’t have his future usual suspects (Knepper, Handy & Co), but he has Waldron occupying the piano stool and McLean and Monterose blowing the winds away.

Where this album really makes a difference with the then-competition in the mid-50’s is the almost 11-mins title track, where we get a good glimpse of the future songwriting genius. Indeed, we get to hear some interesting use of chords, away from the usual bop standards. Man, if by today’s standards, PE is relatively normal (well maybe not trivial), I can imagine Charlie spooked a few bop-purists at the time with that track. I wish the rest of the album was of the same ilk, but alas it was not that evident… The following Foggy Day is rather fun and spooky at the same time with car horns, whistles, piano tinkles and some bowed contrabass, so the interest of the album is kept.

Things don’t follow that route on the flipside though, as Jackie’s Profile brings nothing new to the debate - at least not compared to the revolution on the other side of the slice of wax. The closing 15-mins Love Chant features some interesting Waldron piano lines and charming sax breaks, but ultimately it remains fairly standard. So, PE was one half revolutionary, but also firmly entrenched in the day’s music style by it’s other half. PE can be regarded as Mingus’ first major oeuvre, and it should be investigated by every musicologist looking at musical evolution.
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