Which is everyone who knows their ass from a hole in the ground

Having only had time to listen to this once, the best I can say is that it didn't bore me like other jazz albums have, and I didn't feel any need to bang my head against the wall in frustration and annoyance. The classical elements certainly added to the overall feel of the album, nothing was too harsh or in your face, but like some others I wasn't that impressed with the spoken word on the penultimate track, and the last one was a little too long and I lost interest to the point where it had moved on to the next Mingus album on Spotify and I hadn't noticed.

Not being a jazz aficionado, I can't speak to the album's importance or acclaim within the genre, and I've never heard Mingus before (though I have heard of him) but like Kind of Blue, for me, this was at least a relatively enjoyable experience, though I doubt I would go back to it again, but then, you could say that about nearly any jazz album in my case. I'd consider this a win, though others may see it as my being a pussy. So be it.

7/10

Charles Mingus - Let My Children Hear Music

Pretty much a stone cold jazz classic to these ears (though not one I revisit that much compared to Hancock or Davis from the same time period). Mingus's biggest strength as a band leader was his flair for an almost cinematic take on the bop and free jazz sounds that were beginning to run wild in the 60's and beyond, though you hear this aspect of his sound clearest on 'The Chill Of Death' and in scattered bits and pieces on the terrific opening number 'The Shoes Of The Fisherman's Wife Are Some Jive Ass Slippers', which is probably my favorite here.

10 out of 10, even if its not among my favorites.

One of the great "classic" jazz albums. Not my favorite album by Mingus but certainly one of his best. I know he thought of it as his favorite work of all his albums. This one always gives me a film score vibe, as if it could've been written for a B&W film noir thriller with a circus, busy downtown metropolitan area, and a smoky jazz dive-bar as the central locations for the action. The spoken word part does sound a bit out of place to me but not enough to detract from the album's general vibe overall. Lots of interesting, very well written, arranged and played music going on here.

Not quite a 10/10 for me but a solid 9/10 in my book.