"Better Git It in Your Soul" is the iconic opening track of Charles Mingus’s 1959 jazz masterpiece Mingus Ah Um. The piece is a vibrant, gospel-influenced composition that sets the album’s tone with its energetic rhythms, exuberant ensemble playing, and deeply soulful character. It stands as one of Mingus’s signature works, renowned for its inventiveness and emotional depth123.
Recording and Release
- Album: Mingus Ah Um
- Release Date: September 14, 1959
- Label: Columbia Records
- Recording Location: CBS 30th Street Studio, New York (May 5, 1959)
- Producer: Teo Macero
- Duration: Approximately 7:22
Personnel
| Name | Instrument |
|---|---|
| Charles Mingus | Bass, bandleader |
| John Handy | Alto saxophone |
| Booker Ervin | Tenor saxophone |
| Shafi Hadi | Tenor saxophone |
| Jimmy Knepper | Trombone |
| Horace Parlan | Piano |
| Dannie Richmond | Drums |
Style and Composition
- Genre: Jazz standard, hard bop, post-bop, big band jazz2
- Heavily influenced by the gospel music of Mingus’s childhood, the track features clapping, shouts, collective improvisation, and raucous interplay between band members.
- The exuberant call-and-response structure, inspired by ecstatic church services, runs through the piece, capturing Mingus's aim to blend jazz with fervent gospel energy23.
- The tempo and spirit are driving (123 BPM), with intentional moments of chaos and crowd-like shouting, reflecting both partying and spirituality.
Legacy and Interpretation
- The track became a core piece in Mingus’s repertoire and is widely recognized as a jazz standard.
- It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013 as part of Mingus Ah Um2.
- "Better Git It in Your Soul" showcases Mingus’s unique mix of strict composition and freedom, incorporating complex ensemble passages with spaces for wild, collective improvisation3.
- The piece also inspired further works exploring Mingus’s roots in blues and gospel, such as his album Blues & Roots (1960).
Notable Aspects
- The title reflects Mingus’s philosophy of playing music with authenticity, passion, and depth—he urged musicians and listeners alike to “get it in your soul.”
- The signature use of group shouts and foot-stomping rhythms is rare for jazz of its era, making the track stand out for its joyous and visceral impact34.
- The composition is frequently covered, studied, and referenced in both jazz literature and performance as an example of Mingus’s originality and emotional force.
Listening
"Better Git It in Your Soul" can be found on Mingus Ah Um and numerous jazz compilations and streaming services56.
"Better Git It in Your Soul" is celebrated for channeling the ecstatic intensity of church music into the jazz idiom, and remains a powerful example of Mingus’s genius as a composer, performer, and bandleader23.
