The independent Debut record label was founded in 1952 by
Charles Mingus, his wife Celia Mingus, and drummer
Max Roach. It was an early assertion of power and autonomy by creative musicians whose every move embodied an uncompromising approach to life and work. During the early '90s, Fantasy's Original Jazz Classics released a series of CDs containing all of the master and alternate takes from the Debut catalog, generally lumping two sessions together from different stages in the Debut chronology.
Vol. 1 combines material recorded by
the Charles Mingus Octet on October 28, 1953 (tracks one through six, five of which were originally released on a 10" LP as Jazz Workshop: Autobiography in Jazz), by
the Jimmy Knepper Quintet on July 10, 1957 (tracks seven through 11, released on a 10" LP as New Faces), and three alternates from the
Knepper date. Studying the evolution of
Mingus and his circle of artists throughout the 1950s is an endless source of wonderment for those who are so inclined. In addition to bassist
Mingus and trombonist
Knepper, key participants include trumpeter Ernie Royal; woodwind handlers Joe Maini,
Teo Macero, and
Eddie Caine; cellist Jackson Wiley; pianist
John Lewis; and vocalist Janet Thurlow. ~ arwulf arwulf