The critics argue whether Ah Um or rather The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady is the definitive Mingus album. What is certain is that this recording from 1959 presents a comparatively straightforward bassist Mingus as composer and leader. The individual pieces are very different and yet accessible at any time. With Better Git it in Your Soul, a gospel-inspired piece as opener, Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, a slow obituary of the recently deceased Lester Young, and Fables of Faubus, a musical parody of the Governor of Arkansas, three pieces became jazz classics at once.
01 Better Git It In Your Soul 02 Goodbye Pork Pie Hat 03 Boogie Stop Shuffle 04 Self-portrait In Three Colors 05 Open Letter To Duke 06 Bird Calls 07 Fables Of Faubus 08 Pussy Cat Dues 09 Jelly Roll