Vinyl Record

Duke Ellington • Charles Mingus • Max Roach - Money Jungle

Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus & Max Roach — Money Jungle on LP: a landmark jazz trio session, available to buy locally in Kilmorna/Listowel.

LP · Jazz · 2020

Available from Kilmorna Collection in Listowel.

Buyer notes: 2020 LP, currently available from the Kilmorna Collection Jazz shelf. Pay for pickup in Listowel or ship within Ireland for EUR 5.50.

A rare meeting of giants, Money Jungle pairs Duke Ellington’s piano and writing instincts with Charles Mingus’s combustible bass presence and Max Roach’s endlessly inventive drums. It’s a “supergroup” on paper, but the record feels more alive than that—three strong musical personalities negotiating space in real time, switching between elegance, urgency, and sharp-edged swing. Across originals and standards, the trio plays with contrast: tightly shaped themes that open into probing improvisation, then snap back into form with a bandleader’s sense of drama. Even familiar pieces take on a bristling, modern energy, while the title track and “African Flower” show how far Ellington could stretch the language without losing the blues at the centre. This LP reissue is a great way to live with the album as a complete statement—short, focused, and packed with interaction. If you like jazz where you can hear decisions being made on the spot, this is the kind of session that rewards repeat listens.

Money Jungle is a landmark trio date: Ellington in a modern, high-tension setting with Mingus and Roach pushing and responding at every turn. It bridges eras—big-band sophistication meeting the bite and freedom of post‑bop—and captures the electricity of three master improvisers sharing very little musical “comfort zone.”

This is a 2020 stereo LP reissue of the classic album. Expect a modern, clean pressing rather than a fragile original—ideal if you want an everyday-play copy that still delivers the album’s dynamics. Packaging and mastering can vary by reissue run, so if you’re chasing a specific cut or jacket detail, it’s worth checking the exact hype sticker/inner sleeve in-store.

Forward, intimate trio sound with plenty of snap in the drums and a woody, present bass. Piano sits upfront; dynamics swing from hushed to punchy, with lots of “in the room” interplay.

Is this the original 1960s pressing? No—this listing is for a 2020 LP reissue, a practical way to own and play the album without hunting an early copy. What style of jazz is it? A high-energy, modern-leaning piano trio record rooted in swing and blues, with strong post‑bop intensity and lots of improvisational push-and-pull. Is it a good starting point for Ellington? Yes, especially if you’re curious about Ellington in a smaller, more confrontational setting. If you prefer lush orchestra textures, you might start with a big-band title and come back to this as the next step.