Big Band of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Jazz Institue Berlin, Jorge Puerta & Randy Brecker - Mingus: Epitaph (2024) [24/96]

At the finale of the "Musikfest Berlin" 2022, the musicians of the Deutsche Oper Berlin and their BigBand performed “Epitaph” as a tribute to the 100th birthday of Charles Mingus.

Under the energetic baton of Titus Engel, the musicians of the BigBand and the Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin and the Jazzinstitut Berlin explore the realms of expression of dark threat, profound songfulness, conflict and ecstasy with irrepressible joy of playing and remarkable clarity. Star trumpeter Randy Brecker lets his wonderfully clear tone soar to the highest heights. It becomes touching when Jorge Puerta sings "Freedom" with a powerful voice and the musicians hum along.

Charles Mingus was considered a genius and "angry man" of jazz, a highly talented musician who was denied the opportunity to study classical cello because of his skin colour. In the 1940's, only jazz was open to him. "Epitaph" was a series of 20 expansive pieces lasting over two hours: the inadequately prepared premiere in 1961 was a failure. It was only when the composer Gunter Schuller revised it in 1989 from Paris and sketches he had left behind that a realisable score emerged.

BigBand der der Deutschen Oper Berlin
Musiker des Orchesters der Deutschen Oper Berlin
Musiker des Jazz Institut Berlin
Special Guests:
Randy Brecker, trumpete
Jorge Puerta, narrator, tenor
Titus Engel, musical director

Recorded live on 19 September 2022 at the Philharmonie Berlin.

Tracklist:
01 - Main Score - Pt. 1
02 - Percussion Discussion
03 - Main Score – Pt. 2
04 - Started Melody
05 - Better Get Hit in Your Soul
06 - The Soul
07 - Moods in Mambo
08 - Self Portrait _ Chill of Death
09 - O.P. (Oscar Pettiford)
10 - Pinky _ Please Don’t Come Back from the Moon
11 - Monk, Bunk, and Vice Versa (Osmotin’)
12 - Peggy’s Blue Skylight
13 - Wolverine Blues
14 - Children’s Hour of Dream
15 - This Subdues My Passion
16 - Untitled Ballad – In Other Words, I am Three
17 - Freedom
18 - _Untitled Interlude - The Underdog Rising_
19 - Noon Night
20 - Main Score Reprise


Thanks to the Original customer!