I was just watching a documenatary on him, I love how "free" he was. Anybody else dig him ?
and just because iI thought it was cool....
and just because iI thought it was cool....
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Charles Mingus
- Thread starter Raven nevermore
- Start date
Amittedly I don't peruse the double bass forums often, but this is one of the 1st posts I've observed here on this landmark bassist. A true original.
Maybe this does belong on the double bass side, but there's never an inappropriate place to discuss Mingus. Maybe being over here it will make some non-jazz types aware of who he was and his music.
Mingus was a true original and we are fortunate that his wife, Sue, has worked tirelessly to keep his music alive through Mingus Dynasty, the Mingus Big Band, and the Mingus Orchestra. But there's plenty to mine through in the originals. In addition to being a virtuoso on DB (and a fair pianist as well), Mingus left behind a wealth of original compositions that rival anyone in the jazz world and would land him in good company in the classical world.
Mingus was a true original and we are fortunate that his wife, Sue, has worked tirelessly to keep his music alive through Mingus Dynasty, the Mingus Big Band, and the Mingus Orchestra. But there's plenty to mine through in the originals. In addition to being a virtuoso on DB (and a fair pianist as well), Mingus left behind a wealth of original compositions that rival anyone in the jazz world and would land him in good company in the classical world.
The Ken Burns Jazz CD is a great place to start with Mingus. The version of Haitian Fight Song on there remains my favourite piece of music by ANYONE. It's pure raucous filth!
Charles Mingus is a musical legend and amazing bassist....when I first got into Jazz about 20 yrs. ago (before I played bass) Mingus and Miles were the ones I listened to the most....I think he definitely inspired me to play bass.
Might it be this one?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWmE8T09-G4
It's a re-working called II B.S. from 1963's Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus. Great album; here's the final track, Hora Decubitus. The layers of melody and counter-melody are great and Eric Dolphy adds a characteristically "Bugs Bunny on Bad Carrot Juice" solo at2:08:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hMBHLlEoPo
Mingus was a tremendously creative person, who should be of interest to all players of every instrument. The broad emotional range of his music is remarkable, from deep, dark and sinister to moments of the brightest whimsy.
Cornell 1964 and Money Jungle, with Duke Ellington and Max Roach, are two of my favorite recordings.
Cornell 1964 and Money Jungle, with Duke Ellington and Max Roach, are two of my favorite recordings.
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FretlessMainly said:
Yep, I got to see the Mingus big band this past April. If you have the chance, I highly recommend you go. It was incredible. I went with my school's jazz band, and our teacher knew a few of the people in the band. he talked to them after their set and they rated their performance that night as a C. A C! And it was still mind blowing. I can only imagine what an A must be...
We also spent the first semester playing Mingus tunes in jazz band. Such beautiful music, that covers the entire spectrum of human emotion. A true genius indeed.
Absolutely love Mingus!
I also recommend Money Jungle! I was just listening to Baron Von Mingus - the West Coast Sessions. Great stuff with Mingus playing bass.
If you haven't yet heard it, DEFINITELY pick up The Quintet - Jazz at Massey Hall. Mingus, Parker, Roach, Gillespie, and Powell.
Killer Mingus, killer jazz.
I also recommend Money Jungle! I was just listening to Baron Von Mingus - the West Coast Sessions. Great stuff with Mingus playing bass.
If you haven't yet heard it, DEFINITELY pick up The Quintet - Jazz at Massey Hall. Mingus, Parker, Roach, Gillespie, and Powell.
Killer Mingus, killer jazz.
You probably weren't recommending them to me specifically, but I saw them in 1993 or '94 at the Regattabar in Cambridge, MA. I was riding the short elevator trip up to the club and who do I end up sharing the ride with but Sue Mingus (I recognized her from Thomas Reichman's 1968 documentary, which is highly recommended).
I just mentioned to her how glad I was that she was working to keep his music alive and she was so genuinely glad that people still had such an appetite for his work after so many years. Music was just about everything to "Cholly" and Sue knows this very well.
While folkies in the early 60's were sweetly singing "Blowin in the Wind" and "If I had a Hammer", Mingus was playing and singing "Fables of Faubus". An angry verbal protest aimed at Orval Faubus, the governor of Arkansas, one of the many disgusting southern racists of the late 50's, early 60's.
In the south, Mungus could have been hanged for the lyrics in "Fables of Faubus". He was a major influence on many great musicians I've know. He certainly influenced me.
In the south, Mungus could have been hanged for the lyrics in "Fables of Faubus". He was a major influence on many great musicians I've know. He certainly influenced me.
+1 for the Mingus love. I'm not a hardcore jazz guy (although, as I get older I find myself exploring it more and more), but I've always dug Mingus.
Yep that's the one! Cheers for the heads up on it's other working title, that's why I could never find that version on an album before. MIngus Mingus Mingus Mingus is now on order, can't wait! Thanks
Roy Vogt
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I was fortunate enough to see him play at La Bastille in Houston in 1976-77. He was a force of nature, even when he was very ill.
Force of nature indeed.
Big fan here, never got to see him live, though I did see his Mingus Dynasty shortly after his death.
His life is worth investigating as well as his music, and he wrote a great unflinching and provocative autobiography, 'Beneath the Underdog'.
But what music- I think he was a masterful composer, and he completely owned the DB. His tone and muscular but expressive style is his alone as well, a true original. I'll never forget the day I heard Money Jungle for the first time, even though I was familiar with a lot of his other stuff already.
