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Double Bass what was it about Mingus

chuck3

chuck3

Jun 19, 2009
4,469
1,063
Brooklyn & Rhinebeck NY
#1
that he could call the tunes (so to speak) the way he did? There were many great bop bass players of his era, yet he stood up to a lot of the conventions. I don't think that technically he was the most amazing player, but it seems he had a personality trait that was very individual. He went on to be more of a great bandleader than a great bassist, IMO, but I could be wrong about that. I would be interested in TB's thoughts on this subject.
 
#2
For me what makes Mingus so special is the way that his best work encompasses so much of the scope of jazz all at once. (That point is also true of Mingus' quintessential sideman Jaki Byard.) Mingus' playing, writing and band are tuneful yet exploratory, thoughtfully arranged yet in the moment, harmonically rich yet within listeners' grasp.

It's also worth noting that, as the years go on, Mingus' contributions as a composer more and more outweigh even those as band-leader and player.

Ultimately there are only a handful of players who are truly essential to understanding the scope and history of jazz music. Charles Mingus is truly one of them: Those who skip past him miss out on music with unique depth, passion and drive.
 
#3
chuck3 said:
that he could call the tunes (so to speak) the way he did? There were many great bop bass players of his era, yet he stood up to a lot of the conventions. I don't think that technically he was the most amazing player, but it seems he had a personality trait that was very individual. He went on to be more of a great bandleader than a great bassist, IMO, but I could be wrong about that. I would be interested in TB's thoughts on this subject.
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I'd suggest doing some more listening to Mingus as a sideman, particularly the sides with the Red Norvo Trio. I think you may want to revise your assessment of his physical approach.
 
#4
Listen to " New Tijuana Moods " if have not. Great compositions and bass playing.
I agree, his compositions were amazing and he should not only be listened to for his bass playing but his compositional skills too.
PBS used to show a movie on his life once in a while, can't remeber the name....
 
#7
Ed Fuqua said:
I'd suggest doing some more listening to Mingus as a sideman, particularly the sides with the Red Norvo Trio. I think you may want to revise your assessment of his physical approach.
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I'm with Ed. In my opinion Mingus is under rated as a player. He had crazy phrasing and could shred ferociously. He was also one of the first jazz bassists to really get into all the "tricks" you can do with a bass, like percussive effects, hip bowing stuff etc. I think all of this is often overlooked because of how prolific and completely unique his writing and personality was. Long live Mingus!:)
 
#8
Scott McC said:
I'm with Ed. In my opinion Mingus is under rated as a player. He had crazy phrasing and could shred ferociously. He was also one of the first jazz bassists to really get into all the "tricks" you can do with a bass, like percussive effects, hip bowing stuff etc. I think all of this is often overlooked because of how prolific and completely unique his writing and personality was. Long live Mingus!:)
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Nobody else was playing the instrument on the level Mingus was in his day.
Sure, there are out of tune notes a lot, but he was playing the WHOLE instrument, top to bottom with high action and gut strings. Today's playing standards have everything to do with Mingus. Thinking of him as just a "beautiful blues player" is a short sell - as he says on the back of "Blues and Roots": "I sang and clapped my hands in church as a little boy but I've grown up now and I am interested in other things."
The concept of the album was dealing with how he wasn't just a blues player.

In many ways he is the first jazz player to really have an impact on the instrument outside the history of jazz.

Cecil Taylor told me the story of Mingus auditioning for the Boston Symphony under Koussevitzky, playing Koussevitzky's solos.
Koussevitzky said Mingus was the most virtuostic bassist he had heard yet, but his skin was not light enough (for the world at that time, not for Koussevitzky himself).
I don't know what other qualifications Mingus' chops need beyond that.
One of my favorite Mingus LPs is "Right Now". His playing holds up to anyone today on that one.
 
#10
He injected his personality into his work, and so the blues and the laughter came through. A unique player for his era, he wasn't perceived as 'so cool' as much as a clown. Definitely a great player, band leader and composer.

-richard
 
#15
Mingus and the Beatles in the same breath? Mingus, if I remember right, referred to the Fab Four as "little marching men."

Mingus was an incredible player and is the reason I picked up the bass, but it's funny how he splits bassists into camps. Some people need music to be played with flash and percision, the Eddie Van Halens and NHOP's of the world. others are looking at heart and emotion, intent. Mingus had both, but he didn't let flash get in the way of his intent.
 
#16
Gornick said:
Mingus and the Beatles in the same breath? Mingus, if I remember right, referred to the Fab Four as "little marching men."

Mingus was an incredible player and is the reason I picked up the bass, but it's funny how he splits bassists into camps. Some people need music to be played with flash and percision, the Eddie Van Halens and NHOP's of the world. others are looking at heart and emotion, intent. Mingus had both, but he didn't let flash get in the way of his intent.
Click to expand...

+1
 

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