Charles Mingus: Better Git It In Your Soul

Three 1959 Mingus albums begin with the same Pentecostal pandemonium. February's "Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting" (Blues & Roots) becomes, in turn, May's "Better Git It In Your Soul" (Mingus Ah Um) and November's "Slop" (Mingus Dynasty), each in fast 6/8 meter with tension-and-release stop-time choruses and verbal exhortations from Mingus enacting the Holy Roller role. Of the three iterations, "Better Git It," with a phenomenal solo by tenorman Ervin, is the most exciting. It's possible that Rev. Charles's religiosity stemmed more from commercial calculation than bedrock convictionhis true bedrock conviction might've been that Holy Rolling helped to sell his records. Whatever, this is bedrock Mingus, not to be missed.