"Money Jungle" – Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Max Roach
3/30/20261 hr 12 min
What happens when you put three of jazz's biggest personalities in a studio for a day? You get Money Jungle: Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus and Max Roach. Can it work? Miles Davis hated it. Others revere it. And the story behind this album is WILD.
It's perhaps the most tense album we've ever listened to. And this episode of You'll Hear It is possibly the most we have ever disagreed about an album! Listen for the music, the hot takes, or just to see what all the fuss is about. No matter your reason for listening to...
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First 90 secondsAdam Maness· Host0:00
[upbeat jazz music] Some called it ridiculous. Others say it's the greatest piano trio album of all time. You've got Charles Mingus, a powder keg of talent and temper, kicked out of Duke Ellington's band once for attacking a trombonist who wanted to tease him. You've got Max Roach, one of the best drummers who ever lived, an intellectual band leader who demanded only the best from his side men. And then there's Duke, a seemingly untouchable legend. Nobody told him what to do. All three of them in a studio, one day of recording, it's Money Jungle. Does it work? I'm Adam Maness.
Peter Martin· Host0:39
And I'm Peter Martin.
Adam Maness· Host0:39
And you're listening to the You'll Hear It podcast, music explored.
Peter Martin· Host0:42
Explored, brought to you today by Open Studio. Go to openstudiojazz.com for all your jazz lesson needs. Peter Martin- Yes ... welcome into the show. Are you prepared for perhaps the most tense album we've ever, ever listened to- Yes, I am prepared ... here on the You'll Hear It podcast? [laughs] Are you ready for this?
Adam Maness· Host1:02
I think I'm ready for it. This is, um, this is a controversial record, I think. Um, this is an, a very interesting record. It's a weird record, and I'm just gonna go ahead and put it out there.
Peter Martin· Host1:13
Yeah?
Adam Maness· Host1:14
This is not a great record.
Peter Martin· Host1:15
This is not your favorite?
Adam Maness· Host1:17
Well, not only is it not my favorite, for sure, I don't think this is a great record, and I just wanna kind of say that 'cause I know that this is apparently a beloved record.
Peter Martin· Host1:25
One of our most requested records here- Yeah ... on the You'll Hear It podcast. This is, of course, Money Jungle by Duke