The mix of poetry and jazz has a checkered career, and after the 1950s, most of the efforts have been mediocre at best. This duo between trumpeter
Jim Dvorak and wordsmith and bassist
Eric Mingus brings the concept to the late 1990s with a compelling and inspiring performance that works on several levels. While there are whiffs of hip-hop and rap, this is not in any sense a commercial release. Instead, there is measure after measure of powerful trumpet (often pushing the edges) and some powerful and effective spoken word. This Mingus is a poet for the times, a conscience for a generation immersed in material values. He is also a fine bassist, and the two musicians create some entertaining jazz. Mingus' gruff voice contains elements of
Jon Hendricks and
Ken Nordine. The recording is a prime example of two plus two equals five -- surprises abound and preconceived notions shatter. ~ Steven Loewy