charles mingus – blues & roots (1lp/ ltd. edition/ stereo/ yellow vinyl)

Released in 1960, Blues & Roots is Charles Mingus’s explosive response to critics who claimed he didn’t swing. The result is a visceral, gospel- and blues-infused jazz album that channels the full spectrum of African American musical tradition. Horns wail, rhythms stomp, and Mingus’s bass thunders across deeply emotional compositions.

Tracks like “Moanin’” and “Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting” reflect the spiritual fervor of Southern churches while pushing the boundaries of bebop. A vibrant and soul-shaking record, Blues & Roots is one of Mingus’s most accessible and powerful works.