Jazz Life

• Track Listing

The odd assortment of performances to be found on this LP has all been reissued on CD by Candid. Charles Mingus on "R&R" successfully teamed together trumpeter Roy Eldridge with altoist Eric Dolphy and trombonist Jimmy Knepper, Cal Massey takes a rare trumpet solo on "Father and Son" and Lightnin' Hopkins plays guitar and sings his country blues, "Black Cat." in addition expanded groups headed by Mingus and drummer Max Roach are heard and tenor-saxophonist Lucky Thompson is showcased on a quartet rendition of "Lord, Lord Am I Ever Gonna Know" that was actually recorded in France. It's an interesting but not essential LP.