Chair in the Sky
| Chair in the Sky | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 1980 | |||
| Recorded | July 9–10, 1979[1] | |||
| Length | 46:08 | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Producer | İlhan Mimaroğlu | |||
| Mingus Dynasty chronology | ||||
| ||||
Chair in the Sky is the first studio album by jazz group Mingus Dynasty.[2] It was released in May 1980, through Elektra Records. Produced by İlhan Mimaroğlu, the album features a group of musicians who had previously played with jazz bassist Charles Mingus, and was recorded months after Mingus' death in January 1979.[3]
The album contains renditions of three songs which appeared on Joni Mitchell's Mingus (1979), which was a collaboration with the bassist and featured some of his final compositions.[4][5] Additionally, versions of "Boogie Stop Shuffle", "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" (both of which had appeared on Mingus' 1959 album Mingus Ah Um, while a version of the latter with lyrics was included on Mingus), and "My Jelly Roll Soul" (from 1960's Blues & Roots) are included.
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| DownBeat |   [6] |
DownBeat assigned the album 4 stars.[6] Reviewer Jon Balleras wrote,"The notion of the music of the late Charlie Mingus being performed by a repertory company composed of Mingus alumni seems not only a fitting tribute to this virtuoso bassist but also in a way necessary".[6]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Charles Mingus.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Boogie Stop Shuffle" | 7:04 |
| 2. | "A Chair in the Sky" | 9:13 |
| 3. | "My Jelly Roll Soul" | 6:10 |
| Total length: | 22:27 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sweet Sucker Dance" | 6:46 |
| 2. | "The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines" | 9:25 |
| 3. | "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" | 7:30 |
| Total length: | 23:41 | |
Personnel
- John Handy – alto saxophone
- Joe Farrell – tenor saxophone
- Jimmy Owens – trumpet, flugelhorn
- Jimmy Knepper – trombone
- Don Pullen – piano
- Charlie Haden – bass
- Dannie Richmond – drums
References
- ↑ Mingus Dynasty (May 1980). Chair in the Sky (liner notes). Elektra Records.
- ↑ McNally, Owen (February 17, 1980). "Mingus Dynasty Reigns Supreme". Hartford Courant. p. 166. Retrieved June 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Yanow, Scott. "Chair in the Sky". AllMusic. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ↑ Priestly, Brian. "Mingus Dynasty: Chair in the Sky". Jazzwise. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ↑ Coombs, Fran (July 27, 1979). "Mingus, Mitchell create work of art". The Roanoke Times. p. 18. Retrieved June 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 Balleras, Jon (May 1980). "Record Reviews". DownBeat. 47 (45): 35.