Pithecanthropus Erectus (album)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Pithecanthropus Erectus is a 1956 album by jazz composer and bassist Charles Mingus. Mingus noted that this was the first album where he taught arrangements to his musicians by ear in lieu of putting the chords and arrangements in writing.
Contents |
Music
According to Mingus' liner notes, the title song is a ten-minute tone poem, depicting the rise of man from his hominid roots (Pithecanthropus erectus) to an eventual downfall due to "his own failure to realize the inevitable emancipation of those he sought to enslave, and his greed in attempting to stand on a false security." The song's title refers to the Java Man fossil, which at the time of its discovery was the oldest human fossil ever found.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Charles Mingus except where noted.
- "Pithecanthropus Erectus" – 10:36
- "A Foggy Day" – 7:50 (George Gershwin)
- "Profile of Jackie" – 3:11
- "Love Chant" – 14:59
Personnel
Musicians
- Charles Mingus – bass
- Jackie McLean – alto saxophone
- J. R. Monterose – tenor saxophone
- Mal Waldron – piano
- Willie Jones – drums
Production
- Tom Dowd – recording engineering
- Hal Lustig – recording engineering
