Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra: Don't Be Afraid... The Music of Charles Mingus

Wynton Marsalis solos brilliantly throughout the performance. His portrayal of the music, however, remains quite mild when compared to Mingus. Smooth and serene, much of the concert takes on an appearance that recalls Marsalis' soundtrack for Tune in Tomorrow. The music of Mingus should, indeed, contain the swing and the fun that Marsalis has adopted as his trademark; however, the music should also fill itself with the ferocity and passion that Mingus represented.

The album's liner notes do not indicate who is performing in which solo spot. Marsalis takes the spotlight often, however, and shares the platform with his all-star ensemble. The moods change often, and the orchestra turns each corner effectively with precision. As Joe Temperley's baritone saxophone wails mournfully on "Meditation on Integration," you can feel the song's underlying meaning. Eric Lewis follows with a powerful piano solo that reinforces Mingus' social and political statements.

The album's title track, "Don't Be Afraid, the Clown's Afraid Too," mellows with a humorous swing approach that remains light and delicate. Wess Anderson, Eric Lewis, Carlos Henriquez, Victor Goines, and Ted Nash step forward with individual efforts that lend a bit of intimacy to the session. However, the music of Charles Mingus deserves that kind of personal touch more forcefully from start to finish.

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