Although 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. ~ Scott Yanow