Charles Mingus

[El_Jeffe]

The bass prodigy, another highly regarded jazz musician, composer, bandleader, & human rights activist.

An iconoclastic visionary, jazz bassist, composer, and pianist Charles Mingus established a movement within modern jazz that marked a departure from bebop and helped chart the course of avant-garde jazz. Inspired by the music of Duke Ellington, Mingus created jazz scores and compositions of textual color while retaining the dominant element of improvisation. He sought to create "spontaneous compositions," that offered musicians individual freedom and collective improvisation often through un-notated sections. Mingus's aggressive bass attack and harmonic sensibility marked an effort to move away from the steady walking bass and to explore octave leaps and rhythmic subdivisions based upon various passing tones.

I think the above sums him up rather well. However his greatest achievement as a jazz composer was to destroy the distinction between improvisation & composition. Lately I've been listening to a lot of Mingus Ah Um, The Black Saint & the Sinner Lady, & Pithecanthropus Erectus. I'm about to try dig further into his discography & see what I can find. This man created & composed my kind of jazz.

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Any fans, share some love & discussion?

[cshadows2887]

Jazz artists are so intimidating. Their catalogues are so big. Good album to start with?

[El_Jeffe]

Understandably, but I never let it put me off because there's so much greatness to be discovered & enjoyed. Mingus Ah Um is one of his best works & perhaps the best starting point mate. Both those youtubes are from the aforementioned album.

[kearn1tm]

I have a little Mingus. I've been exploring a lot of contemporary Jazz artists recently, and haven't given the older guys much attention (save for Rollins and Sun Ra). I should start listening again. Thanks, Craig.

[cshadows2887]

"Better Get in Your Soul" is fantastic.

[StreetSpirit76]

Mingus has been on my list of artists to dive into for a while now; I'm only really familiar with his collaboration with Joni Mitchell, which I'm not a big fan of sadly. I'll have to check out some of the albums mentioned in this thread.

[apresnuledeluge]

The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady is a masterpiece. Probably my favorite jazz work.

[apresnuledeluge]

Also:

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[El_Jeffe]

Oh mate, great pick! I've never heard that album in its entirety, but I'm certainly familiar with that composition, "awesome" doesn't even begin to describe it. "Moanin'" came from the album Blues & Roots didn't it? I think that's the album I'm going to dive into next.

[apresnuledeluge]

Oh mate, great pick! I've never heard that album in its entirety, but I'm certainly familiar with that composition, "awesome" doesn't even begin to describe it. "Moanin'" came from the album Blues & Roots didn't it? I think that's the album I'm going to dive into next.

It's really wonderful. Blues & Roots is a lot more straightforward than some of his other compositions, but it has this sort of unbridled charisma to it that's undeniable. Heavily influenced by that old New Orleans swing. I'm sure you'll really love it.

[yellowhouse]

Jazz artists are so intimidating. Their catalogues are so big. Good album to start with?

The first Mingus album I ever heard was The Clown, so I'd start there.

[IWasaCamera]

Oh man, probably my second favorite jazz artist. Just incredible, be it Mingus Ah Um, New Tijuana Moods, The Black Saint, Mingus X 5, etc. So many superb albums.

[El_Jeffe]

The grumpy man of jazz is my favourite of any jazz musician I'm come across so far in my musical travels, but it's a journey that I have no desire to end.

& to the bloke a couple above. I'm starting to really digest Blues & Roots lately, & lovin' it. Another massively enjoyable album.

[cshadows2887]

Oh man, probably my second favorite jazz artist. Just incredible, be it Mingus Ah Um, New Tijuana Moods, The Black Saint, Mingus X 5, etc. So many superb albums.

Can you guess my follow-up question?

[El_Jeffe]

John Coltrane^

[cshadows2887]

Aah. Okay. No arguements here. I only have A Love Supreme but it's pretty genius.

[IWasaCamera]

Trane is genius but there's a thread devoted to his work already so back to Mingus.

Have you guys checked out Pithecanthropus Erectus? Probably his first great record. Title track is delicioussss.

[El_Jeffe]

Pithecanthropus Erectus is another great great album. I haven't spent as much time with that one as I have others, as I only got it about the time I made this thread. Mingus is one jazz artist where it really is worth digging into their discography, because there are simply soo many treasures to discover.

[murrich]

Never listened to him before, any album I should listen to first?

[El_Jeffe]

Mingus Ah Um or The Black Saint & the Sinner Lady are probably great starting points. That's the order I started in anyway, both highly praised albums.

[IWasaCamera]

Never listened to him before, any album I should listen to first?
Mingus Ah Um as Craig stated.
Pithecanthropus Erectus is another great great album. I haven't spent as much time with that one as I have others, as I only got it about the time I made this thread. Mingus is one jazz artist where it really is worth digging into their discography, because there are simply soo many treasures to discover.
Most definitely. Even his collab with Joni Mitchell (that in itself frightened me) contains a few gems.

[El_Jeffe]

I'm yet to listen to the collaboration with Joni Mitchell. I didn't know what to make of it once I heard that even existed haha. Maybe later down the track I'll check that one out... I'm having too much fun digging through his other material.

[IWasaCamera]

Oh, it shouldn't be that high on the Mingus priority list ha.

[cshadows2887]

Bumping this so it's easier to find when I want to play those vids ad nauseum.

[Wake Up]

hey sexy

[Brokenhill]

When I was checking out jazz a while back I listened to his most known album a couple times, and really liked it. I haven't purchased my first straight-jazz album yet, but I may start with one of his.

[IWasaCamera]

Go with the rec posted in this thread: Mingus Ah Um.

[cshadows2887]

Go with the rec posted in this thread: Mingus Ah Um.

Finally heard it today. Wow. Currently my favorite jazz record. Not that I've heard all that much jazz, but still.

[El_Jeffe]

His work seriously is that good. Definitely my favourite jazz artist in my musical journey so far. So many hidden treasures too.

[cshadows2887]

Just bought Mingus Ah Um for 7 bucks, brand new and remastered. A steal.

[Brokenhill]

Just bought Mingus Ah Um for 7 bucks, brand new and remastered. A steal.

Yea, the record exchange store I always go to has had 1 of the copies for a while now, for 8 bucks. I almost bought it the last couple times I went in...i'll be buying it the next time i'm there. It has bonus material too, right?

[cshadows2887]

Yea, the record exchange store I always go to has had 1 of the copies for a while now, for 8 bucks. I almost bought it the last couple times I went in...i'll be buying it the next time i'm there. It has bonus material too, right?

Yessir. And it sounds beautiful

[micahistheballs]

I absolutely love the Black Saint and the Sinner Lady and also very much enjoy Mingus Ah Um and Let My Children Hear Music, but not quite to the same extent. I'll give Blues & Roots a listen in the near future.

[Brokenhill]

I picked up 'Mingus Ah Um' as well...last night, it was only $6 new.

[FullCollaspe]

I've grown to like Let My Children Hear My Music to the same extent as The Black Saint. Mingus Ah Um is also nice, but I'm not a super big fan of it.

[AgainstTheCurrent]

Played "Haitian Flight Song" in my jazz band. It was my most favorite bass line/song we played all year.

[Brokenhill]

Definitely glad I purchased it. I've only heard it a few times, but it's great for either night or day, and there's a decent amount of variety.

I love how the sax's playing the main melody in "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" are not in close sync - the offset gives it a bit more depth.

I do wish there were a few more (or longer) spots where it would be just Charles and Horace playing though.

[Jonathan Sander]

Oh mate, great pick! I've never heard that album in its entirety, but I'm certainly familiar with that composition, "awesome" doesn't even begin to describe it. "Moanin'" came from the album Blues & Roots didn't it? I think that's the album I'm going to dive into next.

I used that song in high school to learn jazz drumming styles ;)

[Brokenhill]

I was just listening to "Girl of My Dreams". That gets played weekly for me though.

[jbaseball44]

Didn't know a Mingus thread existed. Ah Um is one of my favorite records but there is so much more to his discography

[cshadows2887]

So much Mingus Ah Um lately. I think I'm ready to check out another record of his.

[El_Jeffe]

The Black Saint & the Sinner Lady
Pithecanthropus Erectus
Blues & Roots

[cshadows2887]

The Black Saint & the Sinner Lady
Pithecanthropus Erectus
Blues & Roots

Pretty sure this one will be my weapon of choice.

[cshadows2887]

Finally took you up on that rec, Craig, and holy shit if Black Saint and the Sinner Lady isn't a masterpiece. Jaw-droppingly good.

[El_Jeffe]

This man was brilliant. Such a range in his playing styles between albums/periods. I adore that album though. I knew you would enjoy it mate.

[cshadows2887]

I love that he's not afraid to just swing sometimes. I dig Miles, but I've never heard that man hit a groove quite the way Mingus does.

[El_Jeffe]

That's almost exactly how I feel about them both. Miles is great, more than great. But when it comes to jazz, Mingus & Rollins have everything I seek in a jazz artist. Much much love!

[cshadows2887]

Just bumped Todd's Rollins thread to remind myself to check him out. Loved what I saw/heard of him when he got the Kennedy Center Honors.

[DJWildefire]

Finally took you up on that rec, Craig, and holy shit if Black Saint and the Sinner Lady isn't a masterpiece. Jaw-droppingly good.

Planning on listening to this tomorrow.

[cshadows2887]

Planning on listening to this tomorrow.

I'm sure you'll love it.