Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Charles Mingus' Pithecanthropus Erectus is a landmark in jazz, marking the shift from jazz as popular music to avant-garde experimentation. Mingus innovated by teaching arrangements by ear, composing with specific musicians in mind, and crafting tone poemsimoves that distanced him from traditional jazz standards. The title track is a haunting ten-minute tone poem, symbolising humanity's rise and fall. Its mix of eerie themes and chaotic bursts reflects civilization's cyclical collapse. Mingus' radical reimagining of Gershwin's A Foggy Day features jarring sound effects before settling into a more upbeat groove. 'Profile of Jackie' offers a moment of conventional beauty, showcasing Mingus' melodic side, while 'Love Chant' explores hypnotic repetition, though it drags in its early stages. However, the track evolves into an engaging improvisational journey. Featuring Jackie McLean and J.R. Monterose on sax, Mal Waldron on piano, and Willie Jones on drums, Mingus leads this quintet through a daring exploration of jazz's future. Pithecanthropus Erectus is a challenging but essential piece of jazz history.