New Tijuana Moods

by Steve Huey Recorded in 1957 for Bluebird but inexplicably shelved until 1962, New Tijuana Moods is one of Charles Mingus' most raucous and exciting sessions, an aural souvenir of his Mexican vacation with drummer Dannie Richmond. As Mingus recounts in the liner notes, his marriage had just broken up, and he was looking to drown his sorrows in as much debauchery as he could endure. That background definitely comes through in the music, which combines south-of-the-border rhythms and folk melodies with Mingus' meaty, adventurous modernist jazz. The five selections cover a great deal of the city's landscape and tell the story of the trip: the cautious optimism of opener "Dizzy Moods," which Mingus adapted from a Gillespie tune while riding in the car; the frenetic, lusty nightclub scene of "Ysabel's Table Dance"; a visit to a "Tijuana Gift Shop"; "Los Mariachis," a tribute to street musicians; and finally the warmly nostalgic, Ellington-associated "Flamingo" closing things out. "Ysabel's Table Dance" in particular sets the tone for the album, using a flamenco motif and clacking castanets to depict a mad striptease, building to several frenzied climaxes in between the upbeat swinging sections. The other lengthy, multi-sectioned highlight, "Los Mariachis," shows how street performers would follow tourists, playing whatever style of music they hoped would get them tips. Accordingly, there are several different feels and themes (one a whimsical folk ditty that pops up now and again), with the whole meant to resemble a Mexican approximation of the blues. Mingus coaxes tremendous performances from an underrated ensemble featuring trumpeter Clarence Shaw, altoist Shafi Hadi, pianist Bill Triglia, and trombonist Jimmy Knepper, making the whole project an utter delight. [The original title was simply Tijuana Moods; RCA's retitled CD reissue added four lengthy alternate takes that restored several edited solos.]