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Double Bass what was it about Mingus

#41
damonsmith said:
Nobody else was playing the instrument on the level Mingus was in his day.
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On which "level" are you speaking, Damon?


Anybody who thinks Mingus "hated white people" should do some serious reading.
Mingus and Red Mitchell tied for new jazz bassist of the year in Downbeat Magazine's Jazz Critic's Poll in about 1954. They don't come any "whiter" than Red and they were close friends. Red wrote some great lyrics to "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" with Sue's blessings. (Sue is white, BTW).
The fact that Charles was pretty much one of the first visible people in the arts who was "in your face" about racial equal rights did not make him a "hater of white people". He was adamant in his views of racism and, IMO and many others, that made him a hero of sorts and was a huge part of his musical passion, obviously.
Passion doesn't only come from love of another person.
IMO, real passion comes from a place in ones heart that is deeper than that. I think the love of freedom trumps all that and in his early life in NYC that was his focus.
 
#44
There's that great story of Mingus on the phone with some record executives at Atlantic, railing about the white man exploiting, keeping down a black man speaking up for his rights and if they didn't watch out he was gonna get his shotgun and come looking for whitey. Knock on the door and it's Pepper Adams, "Oh hey Pepper, I'll be off the phone in minute, there's beer in the fridge if you want to grab one..." back to the phone ..."mother****ing white men...."
 
#47
MR PC said:
Mingus hated white people, that wasn't so easy.
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Nonsense.
I was sitting in a club where Charlie was setting up to play a Sunday afternoon brunch. Charlie had a table full of ladies with him, and he was wearing a black MacGregor jacket. A white friend came in, wearing the same jacket as Charlie, but in white. Charlie heartily welcomed his white friend, introduced them to all his ladyfriends, and then nodded toward the guy. Charlie said to the ladies, "You see, his is just like mine, except his is white, and mine's black."
:D
 
#56
Paul Warburton said:
I find it hard to believe that someone would choose to post that crap here.......hard to believe but not really surprised, considering the source.
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Really Paul, you must know. Mingus himself is the source. His brilliant idea for preserving an important part of his image for the future. He made sure that the camera was rolling before starting his rants. This is historical footage, Mingus was in control. You can purchase it in it's entirety from Amazon. I found it hard to believe that Mingus would allow that eviction and drug bust footage (with his five year old daughter at his side) to be included in "Mingus 68". He obviously needed the world to view his own daily personal suffering and anger. I remember when I saw the entire film in the public theater.....after Mingus shot his rifle off through the ceiling, I stopped being surprised by anything he ever did outside of music.

I still dig his music.
 
#57
Anybody who has access to Netflix, check out the Naxos Jazz Icons DVD. IMHO, one of the most amazing Mingus ensembles, w/Eric Dolphy, et al.

http://www.netflix.com/Search?v1=Jazz Icons: Charles Mingus: Live in '64&oq=Jazz icons


Any question about his instrumental facility? Not after one sees this, IMHO.

I always feel slightly changed when I hear Charles Mingus. He always takes me into another musical room and stretches my comfort level. I love that.

The mix of both lovely and disturbing, familiar and deeply uncomfortable, to create beauty and power. As Paul said, to paraphrase, I need to have some time afterwards to sort of get over listening to him; it always leaves a mark.
 

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