Brilliant. My copy is pretty hammered, unfortunately, but I'm pretending that the ticks and pops are actually part of Mingus's eccentric plan for the rhythm section...
It's strange, right? Wikipedia and All Music write that the applause was added later, but the liner notes state that "This is a "live" recording, and the first such Powell has made in a nightclub, The atmosphere of an in-person performance is well captured" (Note the quotes around the word "live", however ...).
Either way, Bud is still shining here, and Clarke and Michelot are likewise great.
Man, I just love that opening to Cherokee on this session! Anyone know if this is done by anyone else, or just by Clifford and Max here? (I've heard Cherokee by a few other artists, and it didn't include the minor key drone-like "American-Indian"-inspired opening...)