Mellow Mama

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[5]

Allmusic reviewer Scott Yanow stated "Recorded in Los Angeles during a three-day period, the 12 selections feature the singer with a swinging jazz combo that has tenor-saxophonist Lucky Thompson, trumpeter Karl George, vibraphonist Milt Jackson and bassist Charles Mingus among its eight members. The 21-year-old Washington was already quite distinctive at this early stage and easily handles the blues and jive material with color and humor. Recommended".[5]

All compositions by John Henry except where noted

1. "Mellow Mama Blues" (Jessie Mae Robinson) – 3:05
2. "All or Nothing Blues" – 2:49
3. "Rich Man's Blues" (Thelma Lowe) – 2:51
4. "Chewin' Mama Blues" – 2:54
5. "Blues for a Day" – 2:49
6. "Wise Woman Blues" – 2:46
7. "My Voot Is Really Vout" – 3:07
8. "Pacific Coast Blues" (Robinson) – 2:37
9. "Beggin' Mama Blues" (Wilbert Barranco, Charles Mingus) – 2:49
10. "Walking Blues" (Lowe) – 2:38
11. "No Voot, No Boot" (Duke Henderson) – 3:00
12. "My Lovin' Papa" (Henderson) – 3:02

• Dinah Washington – vocals
• Karl George – trumpet
• Jewel Grant – alto saxophone
• Lucky Thompson – tenor saxophone
• Gene Porter – baritone saxophone, clarinet
• Milt Jackson – vibraphone (tracks 1, 3-7 & 9-12)
• Wilbert Baranco – piano
• Charles Mingus – bass
• Lee Young – drums

Recorded in Los Angeles on December 10, 1945 (tracks 4, 6, 10 & 11), December 12, 1945 (tracks 2, 3, 9 & 12) and December 13, 1945 (tracks 1, 5, 7 & 8)