Pithecanthropus Erectus

Jackie McLean (alto sax), J. R. Monterose (tenor saxophone), Mal Waldron (piano), Charles Mingus (bass) and Willie Jones (drums). From the album Pithecanthropus Erectus (1956).

This album is the first one in which Charles Mingus gave oral instructions to his musicians instead of scores and supposed his consolidation as a leader. In this album he established himself as a composer of unlimited creativity and a new and fresh voice that, despite his modern concepts, was rooted in jazz tradition.

Mingus discovered himself after mastering the languages of swing and bebop, and challenged his musicians to work outside the conventions. The title track of the album is a masterpiece: a four-movement tone poem that represents man’s evolution from achievement to slavery and finally to destruction. The piece is held together by a repeated melody broken by frantic interludes that darken as the spirit of man sinks deeper and deeper.

The theme is a bit mysterious and disturbing. McLean plays some phrases accompanied in a somewhat chaotic way by the rest of the group and they repeat the theme again. Suddenly the whole band begins to play out of control until order is re-established and Monterose enters to expose his solo. His sentences are simple, but profound, and in the end chaos comes back momentarily. Next appears Waldron with a slow and unpretentious speech, but accompanied very closely by Mingus who sets the guidelines. Then its McLean’s turn, who plays with intelligence and confidence a melodic line full of imagination. Again the disorder arises and the group re-exposes the theme, although in the end anarchy prevails.