This is one of the most overlooked albums in the Mingus legacy. It is from a relatively stable period musically and personally in Mingus' volatile life. The band is one of the longest he was able to keep together and lasted from 1956 through the latter part of 1958 with basically the same personnel except for the revolving door of pianists. Pianist were hard to keep in those days as they were always busy with backing singers of playing lucrative solo gigs. The personnel her is Clarence Shaw on trumpet, Shafi Hadi on alto and tenor saxophones, Jimmy Knepper on trombone and of course Dannie Richmond on drums. A last minute cancellation by Mingus' semi-regular pianist caused Mr. Mingus to call the then up and coming Bill Evans to play piano and he came in and sight-read the parts and nailed every tune. Bill is really the co-star on this date. Only one non-Mingus tune is featured and that is the beautiful Eubie Blake/Andy Razaf tune called "Memories of You" the rest of the six tunes are by Mingus. This is an album that should not be overloo0ked and is an important piece of Minugs' musical history. "East Coasting" is a wonderful musical experience.
