Mysterious Blues

by Scott YanowAlthough a Mosaic box set claims to have all of Charles Mingus's Candid recordings, this CD, in addition to four duplications from the box, contains three alternate takes not included elsewhere: "Body and Soul" (featuring trumpeter Roy Eldridge and altoist Eric Dolphy), the Dannie Richmond drum solo "Melody from the Drums" and a septet runthrough on "Reincarnation of a Love Bird." A fine introduction into the music of Charles Mingus, this set still cannot compare to the Mosaic box which has the Mingus's pianoless quartet with Dolphy, Richmond and trumpeter Ted Curson, but completists will have to acquire both releases.