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Charles Mingus
Performance for the U.S. Bicentennial, Lower Manhattan, July 4, 1976.Photo by Tom Marcello
Performance for the U.S. Bicentennial, Lower Manhattan, July 4, 1976. The United States Bicentennial was celebrated on Sunday July 4, 1976, the 200th Anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence Lower Manhattan (or downtown Manhattan) is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the
Photo by Tom Marcello
Background information
Birth name Charles Mingus, Jr.
Also known as Charlie Mingus
Born April 22, 1922(1922-04-22)
US Army Base in Nogales, Arizona
Origin Los Angeles, California
Died January 5, 1979 (aged 56)
Cuernavaca, Mexico
Genre(s) Bebop
Avant-garde jazz
Post-bop
Occupation(s) Bassist, Composer, Bandleader
Instrument(s) Double bass, Piano, Cello, Trombone
Years active 1943 - 1979
Label(s) Debut, Impulse!, Candid, Atlantic, Blue Note, Mercury, Columbia
Website MingusMingusMingus.com

Charles Mingus (22 April 1922–5 January 1979) was an American jazz bassist, composer, bandleader, and occasional pianist. Events 1500 - Portuguese Navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral becomes the first European to sight Brazil. Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Nogales is a city in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. The State of Arizona ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Events 1477 - Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Cuernavaca (Cuauhnāhuac|kʷaw̥'naːwak is the capital and largest city of the state of Morelos in Mexico. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Bebop or bop is a form of Jazz characterized by fast Tempos and Improvisation based on Harmonic structure rather than Melody Avant-garde jazz (also known as avant-jazz) is a style of music and Improvisation that combines Avant-garde Art music and composition with Post-bop is a term for a form of small-combo Jazz music that evolved in the early-to-mid sixties A bass player (bassist is a Musician who plays a Double bass, Bass guitar, keyboard bass or wind A composer (literally meaning 'one who puts together' is a person who creates Music, usually in the medium of notation, for Interpretation and Performance A bandleader is the leader of a band of Musicians The term is most commonly though not exclusively used with a group that plays Popular music as A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The double bass is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed String instrument used in the modern symphony orchestra. The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers The violoncello (abbreviated to cello, or 'cello, plural cellos or celli —the c is tʃ The trombone is a Musical instrument in the brass family Like all brass instruments it is a lip-reed Aerophone: sound is produced when the player’s Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Debut Records was a United States Jazz Record label, which was founded in 1952 by Bassist Charles Mingus, his then-wife Impulse! Records was an American based Jazz Record label, originally launched in 1960 by Creed Taylor as a subsidiary of ABC-Paramount Candid Records was founded as a subsidiary of Archie Bleyer 's Cadence label in New York City in 1960. Atlantic Records ( Atlantic Recording Corporation) is an American Record label best known for its many recordings of Rhythm & blues, Rock Mercury Records is a Record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Music Group in the US and are both subsidiaries of Columbia Records is an American Record label founded in 1888 Columbia is the oldest surviving Brand name in pre-recorded sound being the first record company Events 1500 - Portuguese Navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral becomes the first European to sight Brazil. Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1477 - Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States A bass player (bassist is a Musician who plays a Double bass, Bass guitar, keyboard bass or wind A composer (literally meaning 'one who puts together' is a person who creates Music, usually in the medium of notation, for Interpretation and Performance A bandleader is the leader of a band of Musicians The term is most commonly though not exclusively used with a group that plays Popular music as A pianist (/'piənɪst/ is a Musician who plays the Piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces play with an ensemble or Orchestra He was also known for his activism against racial injustice. Activism, in a general sense can be described as intentional action to bring about social or political change List of racism-related topics|Racism by country Racism, by its simplest definition is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that

Mingus is highly ranked among the composers and performers of jazz, and he recorded many highly regarded albums. Dozens of musicians passed through his bands and later went on to impressive careers. His tunes—though melodic and distinctive—are not often re-recorded, in part because of their unconventional nature. Mingus was also influential and creative as a band leader, recruiting talented and sometimes little-known artists whom he assembled into unconventional and revealing configurations.

Nearly as well known as his ambitious music was Mingus' often fearsome temperament, which earned him the nickname "The Angry Man of Jazz. " His refusal to compromise his musical integrity led to many on-stage eruptions, though it has been argued that his temper also grew from a need to vent frustration.

Mingus was prone to depression. Major depressive disorder, also known as major depression, unipolar depression, unipolar disorder, clinical depression, or simply depression He tended to have brief periods of extreme creative activity, intermixed with fairly long periods of greatly decreased output.

Most of Mingus's music retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music while sometimes drawing on elements of Third Stream, free jazz and even classical music. Hard bop is a style of Jazz that is an extension of Bebop (or "bop" music Gospel music is Music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life as well as (in terms of the varying music styles to Third stream is a term coined in 1957 by composer Gunther Schuller to describe a Musical genre which is a Synthesis of classical music For the Ornette Coleman album after which this genre was named see Free Jazz A Collective Improvisation. Yet Mingus avoided categorization, forging his own brand of music that fused tradition with unique and unexplored realms of jazz. Mingus focused on collective improvisation, similar to the old New Orleans Jazz parades, paying particular attention to how each band member interacted with the group as a whole. In creating his bands, Mingus looked not only at the skills of the available musicians, but also their personalities. He strove to create unique music to be played by unique musicians.

Due to his brilliant writing for mid-size ensembles—and his catering to and emphasizing the strengths of the musicians in his groups—Mingus is often considered the heir apparent to Duke Ellington, for whom he expressed unqualified admiration. Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29 1899 &ndash May 24 1974 was an American Composer, Pianist, and Bandleader. Indeed, Dizzy Gillespie had once claimed Mingus reminded him "of a young Duke", citing their shared "organizational genius. John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie ( October 21 1917 &ndash January 6 1993) was an American Jazz Trumpeter "[1]

Contents

Biography

Early life and career

Charles Mingus was born in Nogales, Arizona. Nogales is a city in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. The State of Arizona ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. He was raised largely in the Watts area of Los Angeles, California. Watts is a residential district in southern Los Angeles California (more specifically part of South Los Angeles) Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. His mother's paternal heritage was Chinese and English, while historical records indicate that his father was the illegitimate offspring of a black farmhand and his Swedish employer's white granddaughter. [2]

His mother allowed only church-related music in their home, but Mingus developed an early love for jazz, especially the music of Duke Ellington. Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29 1899 &ndash May 24 1974 was an American Composer, Pianist, and Bandleader. He studied trombone, and later cello. The trombone is a Musical instrument in the brass family Like all brass instruments it is a lip-reed Aerophone: sound is produced when the player’s The violoncello (abbreviated to cello, or 'cello, plural cellos or celli —the c is tʃ Much of the cello technique he learned was applicable to double bass when he took up the instrument in high school. The double bass is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed String instrument used in the modern symphony orchestra. High school is the name used in some parts of the world (in particular Scotland, North America and Australia) to describe an institution

Beginning in his teen years, Mingus was writing quite advanced pieces; many are similar to Third Stream Jazz. A number of them were recorded in 1960 with conductor Gunther Schuller, and released as Pre-Bird, referring to Charlie "Bird" Parker. Gunther Schuller (born November 22 1925) is an American Composer and horn player

Mingus gained a reputation as something of a bass prodigy. He toured with Louis Armstrong in 1943, then played with Lionel Hampton's band in the late 1940s; Hampton performed and recorded several of Mingus's pieces. Louis Armstrong (August 4 1901 &ndash July 6 1971 nicknamed Satchmo or Sachimo and Pops, was an American Jazz Trumpeter Lionel Leo Hampton ( April 20, 1908 &ndash August 31, 2002) was an American Jazz Vibraphonist, Percussionist A popular trio of Mingus, Red Norvo and Tal Farlow in 1950 and 1951 received considerable acclaim, but Mingus' mixed origin caused problems with club owners and he left the group. Red Norvo ( 31 March 1908 &ndash 6 April 1999) was one of Jazz 's early vibraphonists. Talmage Holt Farlow ( June 7, 1921 &ndash July 25, 1998) was a Jazz Guitarist He was born in Greensboro North Mingus was briefly a member of Ellington's band in the early 1950s, and Mingus's notorious temper reportedly led to his being the only musician personally fired by Ellington (although there are reports that Sidney Bechet in 1925 was another). Sidney Bechet ( May 14, 1897 &ndash May 14, 1959) was an American Jazz saxophonist, Clarinetist and Composer Mingus was also known for his flirtatious personality!

Also in the early 1950s, before attaining commercial recognition as a bandleader, Mingus played gigs with Charlie Parker, whose compositions and improvisations greatly inspired and influenced him. Mingus considered Parker the greatest genius and innovator in jazz history, but he had a love-hate relationship with Parker's legacy. Mingus blamed the Parker mythology for a derivative crop of pretenders to Parker's throne. He was also conflicted and sometimes disgusted by Parker's self-destructive habits and the romanticized lure of drug addiction they offered to other jazz musicians. In response to the many sax players who imitated Parker, Mingus titled a song, "If Charlie Parker were a Gunslinger, There'd be a Whole Lot of Dead Copycats" (released on Mingus Dynasty as "Gunslinging Bird"). Mingus Dynasty is an Album by Charles Mingus, recorded and released in 1959, and was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in

Based in New York

In 1952 Mingus co-founded Debut Records with Max Roach, in order to conduct his recording career as he saw fit; the name originated with a desire to document unrecorded young musicians. Debut Records was a United States Jazz Record label, which was founded in 1952 by Bassist Charles Mingus, his then-wife Maxwell Lemuel Roach ( January 10, 1924 &ndash August 16, 2007) was an American Jazz Percussionist, Drummer Despite this, the best known recording the company issued was of the most prominent figures in bebop. On May 15, 1953, Mingus joined Dizzy Gillespie, Parker, Bud Powell, and Roach for a concert at Massey Hall in Toronto, which is the last recorded documentation of the two lead instrumentalists playing together. Events 1252 - Pope Innocent IV issues the Papal bull Ad exstirpanda, which authorizes but also limits the Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie ( October 21 1917 &ndash January 6 1993) was an American Jazz Trumpeter Earl Rudolph "Bud" Powell ( September 27[[ 924]] &ndash July 31[[ 966]] in New York City) was an American Jazz pianist, usually considered Massey Hall, located at 178 Victoria Street downtown Toronto, was built in 1894 by architect Sidney Badgley and financed by Hart Massey of Massey-Harris Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario Jazz at Massey Hall is a Jazz Album featuring a live performance by "The Quintet" on 15 May 1953 at Massey Hall After the event, Mingus chose to overdub his barely-audible bass part back in New York; the original version was issued later. The two 10" albums of the Massey Hall concert (one featured the trio of Powell, Mingus and Roach) were among Debut Records' earliest releases. Mingus may have objected to the way the major record companies treated musicians, but Gillespie once commented that he did not receive any royalties "for years and years" for his Massey Hall appearance. Royalties (sometimes running royalties) are usage-based payments made by one party (the "licensee" to another (the "licensor" for ongoing use of an The records though, are often regarded as among the finest live jazz recordings.

In 1955, Mingus was involved in a notorious incident while playing a club date billed as a "reunion" with Parker, Powell, and Roach. Powell, who had suffered from alcoholism and mental illness for years (potentially exacerbated by a severe police beating and electroshock treatments), had to be helped from the stage, unable to play or speak coherently. Electroconvulsive therapy ( ECT) also known as electroshock, is a controversial psychiatric treatment in which Seizures are electrically induced As Powell's incapacitation became apparent, Parker stood in one spot at a microphone, chanting "Bud Powell. . . Bud Powell. . . " as if beseeching Powell's return. Allegedly, Parker continued this incantation for several minutes after Powell's departure, to his own amusement and Mingus' exasperation. Mingus took another microphone and announced to the crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen, please don't associate me with any of this. This is not jazz. These are sick people. "[3] This was Parker's last public performance, about a week later Parker died after years of alcohol and drug abuse.

Mingus often worked with a mid-sized ensemble (around 8–10 members) of rotating musicians known as the Jazz Workshop. Mingus broke new ground, constantly demanding that his musicians be able to explore and develop their perceptions on the spot. Those who joined the Workshop (or Sweatshops as they were colorfully dubbed by the musicians) included Pepper Adams, Jaki Byard, Booker Ervin, John Handy, Jimmy Knepper, Charles McPherson and Horace Parlan. Pepper Adams (born Park Adams III on October 8, 1930 in Highland Park Michigan - died on September 10, 1986 in Brooklyn New Jaki (John Byard ( June 15, 1922 in Worcester Massachusetts – February 11, 1999 in New York City) was an American Booker Telleferro Ervin II (born October 31 1930 Denison Texas; died July 31 1970 New York City) was an American Hard bop tenor Saxophone John Richard Handy III (born February 3, 1933 in Dallas, Texas) is an American Jazz alto saxophonist. James M (Jimmy Knepper ( November 22 1927 – June 14 2003) was an American Jazz Trombonist. Charles McPherson (born July 24, 1939) is an American Jazz alto saxophonist born in Joplin Missouri and raised in Horace Parlan (born 1931 in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania) is an American Hard bop and Post-bop Piano player Mingus shaped these promising novices into a cohesive improvisational machine that in many ways anticipated free jazz. For the Ornette Coleman album after which this genre was named see Free Jazz A Collective Improvisation. Some musicians dubbed the workshop a "university" for jazz.

Pithecanthropus Erectus among other creations

The decade which followed is generally regarded as Mingus's most productive and fertile period. Impressive new compositions and albums appeared at an astonishing rate: some thirty records in ten years, for a number of record labels (Atlantic Records, Candid, Columbia Records, Impulse! Records and others), a pace perhaps unmatched by any other musician except Ellington. Atlantic Records ( Atlantic Recording Corporation) is an American Record label best known for its many recordings of Rhythm & blues, Rock Candid Records was founded as a subsidiary of Archie Bleyer 's Cadence label in New York City in 1960. Columbia Records is an American Record label founded in 1888 Columbia is the oldest surviving Brand name in pre-recorded sound being the first record company Impulse! Records was an American based Jazz Record label, originally launched in 1960 by Creed Taylor as a subsidiary of ABC-Paramount

Mingus had already recorded around ten albums as a bandleader, but 1956 was a breakthrough year for him, with the release of Pithecanthropus Erectus, arguably his first major work as both a bandleader and composer. Pithecanthropus Erectus is a 1956 Album by Jazz composer and Bassist Charles Mingus. Like Ellington, Mingus wrote songs with specific musicians in mind, and his band for Erectus included adventurous, though distinctly blues-oriented musicians, piano player Mal Waldron, alto saxophonist Jackie McLean and the Sonny Rollins-influenced tenor of J. R. Monterose. The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression Malcolm Earl Waldron ( August 16, 1925 – December 2, 2002) was an American Jazz and World music Pianist John Lenwood (Jackie McLean ( May 17 1931 &ndash March 31 2006; some sources erroneously give 1932 as his year of birth was an American Theodore Walter "Sonny" Rollins (born September 7 1930 in New York City) is an American Jazz tenor Saxophonist J R Monterose ( January 19, 1927 &ndash September 16, 1993) born Frank Anthony Peter Vincent Monterose Jr The title song is a ten minute tone poem, depicting the rise of man from his hominid roots (Pithecanthropus erectus) to an eventual downfall. A symphonic poem or tone poem is a piece of Orchestral Music in one movement in which some extramusical program provides a narrative or illustrative element A section of the piece was improvised free of structure or theme. Free improvisation or free music is improvised music without any rules beyond the taste or inclination of the musician(s involved in many cases the musicians make

Another album from this period, The Clown (1957 also on Atlantic Records), with an improvised story on the title track by humorist Jean Shepherd, was the first to feature drummer Dannie Richmond. The Clown is an album by Charles Mingus recorded and released in 1957 Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) Atlantic Records ( Atlantic Recording Corporation) is an American Record label best known for its many recordings of Rhythm & blues, Rock Jean Parker Shepherd ( July 26, 1921 - October 16, 1999) was an American Raconteur, Radio and TV personality A drummer is a Musician who plays a Drum or drums particularly a Drum kit ("drum set" or "trap set" Marching percussion Dannie Richmond ( 15 December 1935 &ndash 15 March 1988) was an American Drummer who was best known among Jazz Richmond would be his preferred drummer until Mingus's death in 1979. The two men formed one of the most impressive and versatile rhythm sections in jazz. A rhythm section is the Musicians in a Popular music band or ensemble who establish the Rhythmic pulse of a Song or musical Both were accomplished performers seeking to stretch the boundaries of their music while staying true to its roots. When joined by pianist Jaki Byard, they were dubbed "The Almighty Three". Jaki (John Byard ( June 15, 1922 in Worcester Massachusetts – February 11, 1999 in New York City) was an American [4]

Mingus Ah Um and other works

Mingus witnessed Ornette Coleman's legendary—and controversial—1960 appearances at New York City's Five Spot jazz club. Ornette Coleman (born March 9, 1930) is an American saxophonist Violinist Trumpeter and Composer. The City of New York The Five Spot Cafe was located in New York City at the corner of Cooper Square and St Though he initially expressed rather mixed feelings for Coleman's innovative music: ". . . if the free-form guys could play the same tune twice, then I would say they were playing something. . . Most of the time they use their fingers on the saxophone and they don't even know what's going to come out. They're experimenting. " Mingus was in fact a prime influence of the early free jazz era. For the Ornette Coleman album after which this genre was named see Free Jazz A Collective Improvisation. He formed a quartet with Richmond, trumpeter Ted Curson and saxophonist Eric Dolphy. Theodore "Ted" Curson (born June 3, 1935, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a Jazz Trumpeter He is perhaps Eric Allan Dolphy ( June 20, 1928 &ndash June 29, 1964) was an American Jazz alto saxophonist, flautist, and This ensemble featured the same instruments as Coleman's quartet, and is often regarded as Mingus rising to the challenging new standard established by Coleman. Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus, the quartet's sole album, is frequently included among the finest in Mingus's catalogue. Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus is an album by Jazz Bassist and Composer Charles Mingus; it was recorded and released

Only one misstep occurred in this era: 1962's Town Hall Concert. Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. An ambitious program, it was unfortunately plagued with troubles from its inception. [5] Mingus's vision was finally realized in 1989, see Epitaph (Mingus). Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) Epitaph is a composition by Jazz Musician Charles Mingus. It takes more than two hours to perform and was only completely discovered during

The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady and the other Impulse! albums

In 1963, Mingus released The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, a sprawling, multi-section masterpiece, described as "one of the greatest achievements in orchestration by any composer in jazz history. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady is a 1963 Jazz composition and Album by Bassist Charles Mingus. Orchestration is the study or practice of writing Music for Orchestra (or more loosely for any Musical ensemble) or of adapting for orchestra music composed "[6] The album was also unique in that Mingus asked his psychotherapist to provide notes for the record. Psychotherapy is an Interpersonal, relational intervention used by trained psychotherapists to aid clients in problems of living

1963 also saw the release of an unaccompanied album Mingus Plays Piano. His piano technique, though capable and expressive, was somewhat unrefined when compared to Herbie Hancock or other contemporary jazz pianists, but the album is still generally well regarded. Herbert Jeffrey Hancock ("Herbie" born April 12 1940 is a Jazz Pianist and Composer. A few pieces were entirely improvised and drew on classical music as much as jazz, preceding Keith Jarrett's landmark The Köln Concert in those respects by some twelve years. Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music Keith Jarrett (born May 8, 1945 in Allentown Pennsylvania) is an American Pianist and Composer. The Köln Concert is a Recording released through ECM by the renowned Jazz Pianist Keith Jarrett, who performed solo

In 1964 Mingus put together one of his best-known groups, a sextet including Dannie Richmond, Jaki Byard, Eric Dolphy, trumpeter Johnny Coles, and tenor saxophonist Clifford Jordan. Dannie Richmond ( 15 December 1935 &ndash 15 March 1988) was an American Drummer who was best known among Jazz Jaki (John Byard ( June 15, 1922 in Worcester Massachusetts – February 11, 1999 in New York City) was an American Eric Allan Dolphy ( June 20, 1928 &ndash June 29, 1964) was an American Jazz alto saxophonist, flautist, and Johnny Coles (July 3 1926 Trenton, New Jersey - December 21 1996 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was an American Jazz trumpeter Clifford Laconia Jordan ( September 2, 1931, Chicago - March 27, 1993, Manhattan) was an inside/outside sax player who held The group was recorded frequently during its short existence; Coles fell ill during a European tour. On June 28, 1964 Dolphy died while in Berlin, and Mingus was evicted from his New York home in 1966.

Changes

Mingus's pace slowed somewhat in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1974 he formed a quintet with Richmond, pianist Don Pullen, trumpeter Jack Walrath and saxophonist George Adams. Don Pullen ( December 25, 1941 - April 22, 1995) was an American Jazz Pianist and Organist. Jack Walrath (born May 5, 1946) is a American Post bop Jazz Trumpeter and Musical arranger born in Stuart George Rufus Adams ( 29 April, 1940 Covington, Georgia - 14 November, 1992 New York City, New York They recorded two well-received albums, Changes One and Changes Two. Changes One is a 1974 (see 1974 in music) album by Jazz composer and Bassist Charles Mingus. Mingus also played with Charles McPherson in many of his groups during this time. Charles McPherson (born July 24, 1939) is an American Jazz alto saxophonist born in Joplin Missouri and raised in

Cumbia and Jazz Fusion in 1976 sought to blend Colombian music (the "Cumbia" of the title) with more traditional jazz forms. Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. Cumbia is originally a Colombian Folk dance and Dance music and is Colombia 's representative national dance and music along with Vallenato

In 1971, Mingus taught for a semester at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York as the Slee Professor of Music. State University of New York at Buffalo, commonly known as University at Buffalo (UB is a Coeducational public research University, which [7]

Later career and death

By the mid-1970s, Mingus was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (popularly known as Lou Gehrig's disease), a wastage of the musculature. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ( ALS, sometimes called Maladie de Charcot, or in the United States Lou Gehrig's Disease) is a progressive Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig ( June 19 1903  – June 2 1941) born Ludwig Heinrich Gehrig, was an American His once formidable bass technique suffered, until he could no longer play the instrument. He continued composing, however, and supervised a number of recordings before his death.

Mingus died aged 56 in Cuernavaca, Mexico, where he had traveled for treatment and convalescence. Cuernavaca (Cuauhnāhuac|kʷaw̥'naːwak is the capital and largest city of the state of Morelos in Mexico. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. His ashes were scattered in the Ganges River. The Ganges (ˈgænʤiːz also Ganga, Devanāgarī: hi गंगा in most Indian languages) is the major river in the Indian subcontinent

At the time of his death, Mingus had been recording an album with singer Joni Mitchell, which included vocal versions of some of his songs (including "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat") among Mitchell originals and short, spoken word duets and home recordings of Mitchell and Mingus. Joni Mitchell, CC (born Roberta Joan Anderson on November 7 1943) is a Canadian Musician, Songwriter, and The album also featured Jaco Pastorius, another massively influential bassist and composer. John Francis Anthony "Jaco" Pastorius III (December 1 1951–September 21 1987 was a American Jazz Musician and Composer widely

Legacy

The Mingus Big Band

The music of Charles Mingus is currently being performed and reinterpreted by the Mingus Big Band, which plays every Tuesday at Iridium Jazz Club in New York City, and often tours the rest of the U.S. and Europe. The Mingus Big Band is an ensemble based in New York City, that specializes in the compositions of the late Charles Mingus. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Elvis Costello has written lyrics for a few Mingus pieces. Elvis Costello (born Declan Patrick MacManus 25 August 1954 is an English Musician and Singer-songwriter, with Irish ancestry He had once sung lyrics for one piece, "Invisible Lady", being backed by the Mingus Big Band on the album, Tonight at Noon: Three of Four Shades of Love. [8]

In addition to the Mingus Big Band, there is the Mingus Orchestra and the Mingus Dynasty, each of which are managed by Jazz Workshop, Inc. Mingus Dynasty was an American Jazz ensemble formed in 1979 just after the death of Charles Mingus, which featured many musicians Mingus recorded or played with , and run by Charles's widow Sue Graham Mingus. Other tribute bands are also active all around the US and the world, including Mingus Amungus in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Swedish Mingus Band Siegmund Freud's Mothers in Stockholm. The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, or the Bay, is a geographically and ethnically diverse metropolitan region that surrounds the

Epitaph

Epitaph is considered by many to be the masterwork of Charles Mingus. Epitaph is a composition by Jazz Musician Charles Mingus. It takes more than two hours to perform and was only completely discovered during Magnum opus (sometimes Opus magnum, plural magna opera) from the Latin meaning great work, refers to the best the greatest It is a composition which is more than 4,000 measures long, requires two hours to perform and was only completely discovered during the cataloguing process after his death by musicologist Andrew Homzy. With the help of a grant from the Ford Foundation, the score and instrumental parts were copied, and the piece itself was premiered by a 30-piece orchestra, conducted by Gunther Schuller. The Ford Foundation is a Private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Gunther Schuller (born November 22 1925) is an American Composer and horn player This concert was produced by Mingus's widow, Sue Graham Mingus, at Alice Tully Hall on June 3, 1989, ten years after his death. Epitaph is one of the longest jazz pieces ever written.

Cover versions

Considering the number of compositions that Charles Mingus has written, his works have not been recorded as often as comparable jazz composers. Of all his works, his elegant elegy for Lester Young, "Goodbye Porkpie Hat" (from Mingus Ah Um) has probably had the most recordings. The term " elegy " was originally used for a type of poetic meter ( Elegiac metre but is also used for a Poem of mourning from the Greek Lester Willis Young ( August 27, 1909 &ndash March 15, 1959) nickname 'Prez' was an American Jazz tenor Saxophonist A pork pie hat or porkpie hat is a type of hat made of Felt or less commonly straw Besides recordings from the expected jazz artists, the song has also been recorded by musicians as disparate as Jeff Beck, Andy Summers, Eugene Chadbourne, and Bert Jansch and John Renbourn with and without Pentangle. Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck (born June 24, 1944 to Arnold and Ethel Beck in Wallington, England) is an English Eugene Chadbourne ( January 4, 1954 in Mount Vernon New York) is an American, Improvisor, Guitarist and Banjoist Herbert Jansch (born 3 November 1943 known as Bert Jansch, is a Scottish Folk musician and founding member of the band Pentangle. John Renbourn (born 8 August 1944, Marylebone, London, England) is an English Guitarist and Songwriter Pentangle is a British Folk rock (or folk-jazz band The original band was active in the late 1960s and early 1970s its successor has been active since the early Joni Mitchell sang a version with lyrics that she wrote for the song. Joni Mitchell, CC (born Roberta Joan Anderson on November 7 1943) is a Canadian Musician, Songwriter, and Elvis Costello has recorded "Hora Decubitus" (from Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus) on 'My Flame Burns Blue' (2006). Elvis Costello (born Declan Patrick MacManus 25 August 1954 is an English Musician and Singer-songwriter, with Irish ancestry Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus is a 1963 (see 1963 in music) album by Jazz composer and Bassist Charles Mingus. "Better Git It in Your Soul" was covered by Davey Graham on his album "Folk, Blues, and Beyond. David Michael Gordon Graham, known as Davey Graham (originally Davy Graham) b " Trumpeter Ron Miles performs a version of "Pithecanthropus Erectus" on his EP "Witness. " New York Ska Jazz Ensemble has done a cover of Mingus' "Haitian Fight Song", as have Pentangle and others. Hal Willner's 1992 tribute album Weird Nightmare: Meditations on Mingus (Columbia Records) contains idiosyncratic renditions of Mingus's works involving numerous popular musicians including Chuck D, Keith Richards, Henry Rollins and Dr. John. Hal Willner (born 1957, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American Music producer working in recording films TV and live events A tribute album is a recorded collection of Cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions Columbia Records is an American Record label founded in 1888 Columbia is the oldest surviving Brand name in pre-recorded sound being the first record company Carlton Douglas Ridenhour (born August 1 1960 in Roosevelt New York) better known by his stage name Chuck D, is an American rapper author and producer Keith Richards (born 18 December 1943 is an English Guitarist, Songwriter, Singer, producer and a founding member of The Rolling Henry Rollins (born February 13 1961 as Henry Lawrence Garfield) is an American singer-songwriter Spoken word Artist, Stand-up comedian, author Dr John (also Dr John Creaux) is the Stage name of Malcolm John Rebennack Jr

Personality and temper

As respected as Mingus was for his musical talents, he was often feared for his sometimes violent onstage temper, which was at times directed at members of his band, and other times aimed at the audience. He was physically large, prone to obesity (especially in his later years), and was by all accounts often intimidating and frightening when expressing anger or displeasure. Obesity is a condition in which excess Body fat has accumulated to such an extent that health may be negatively affected

When confronted with a nightclub audience talking and clinking ice in their glasses while he performed, Mingus stopped his band and loudly chastised the audience, stating "Isaac Stern doesn't have to put up with this shit. Isaac Stern ( July 21, 1920 &ndash September 22, 2001) was an American Violin Virtuoso. "[9] He once played a prank on a similar group of nightclub chatterers by silencing his band for several seconds, allowing the loud audience members to be clearly heard, then continuing as the rest of the audience snickered at the oblivious "soloists".

Guitarist and singer Jackie Paris was a first-hand witness to Mingus's irascibility. Jackie Paris ( September 20, 1926 – June 17, 2004) was an American Jazz Singer and Guitarist. Paris recalls his time in the Jazz Workshop: "He chased everybody off the stand except [drummer] Paul Motian and me. Stephen Paul Motian (born 25 March 1931 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and raised in Providence Rhode Island) is an American . . The three of us just wailed on the blues for about an hour and a half before he called the other cats back. "[10]

While onstage at a memorial concert in Philadelphia, he reportedly attempted to crush his pianist's hands with the instrument's keyboard cover, then punched trombonist Jimmy Knepper in the mouth. James M (Jimmy Knepper ( November 22 1927 – June 14 2003) was an American Jazz Trombonist. [11] On October 12, 1962, Mingus slapped Knepper in the mouth while the two men were working together at Mingus's apartment on a score for his upcoming concert at New York Town Hall and Knepper refused to take on more work. Events 539 BC - The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon. Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The blow broke a cap and its tooth stub. [12] According to Knepper, this ruined his embouchure and resulted in the permanent loss of the top octave of his range on the trombone. The embouchure is the use of facial muscles and the shaping of the lips to the Mouthpiece of a Wind instrument. This attack ended their working relationship and Knepper was unable to perform at the concert. Charged with assault, Mingus appeared in court in January, 1963 and was given a suspended sentence. [13] In another incident, saxophonist Jackie McLean, fearing the bassist was about to kill him, nearly stabbed Mingus after Mingus punched him. John Lenwood (Jackie McLean ( May 17 1931 &ndash March 31 2006; some sources erroneously give 1932 as his year of birth was an American

Awards & Honors

Partial Discography

As a Sideman:

As Leader:

Further reading

Movies

References

  1. ^ David Simpson. Myself When I Am Real: The Life and Music of Charles Mingus, by Gene Santoro. Jazz Institute of Chicago book review. Retrieved on 2008-03-25. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6.
  2. ^ Myself When I am Real: The Life and Music of Charles Mingus, Gene Santoro (Oxford University Press, 1994) ISBN 0195097335
  3. ^ Five More Articles on Jazz (Rexroth). Bureau of Public Secrets article.
  4. ^ Saying Something: Jazz Improvisation and Interaction, Ingrid Monson (University of Chicago Press, 1997) ISBN 0226534782
  5. ^ Gene Santoro (2000-06-06). 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Town Hall Train Wreck. The Village Voice. Retrieved on 2008-03-25. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6.
  6. ^ The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady. Album overview on All Music Guide.
  7. ^ The Musical Styles of Charles Mingus, (Warner Bros. Publications, Jazz Workshop, 1982)
  8. ^ Tonight at Noon: Three of Four Shades of Love. Album overview on All Music Guide.
  9. ^ René Marie: Jump, and the net will appear. Interview by Bruce Crowther.
  10. ^ Paris When He Sizzles. Village Voice article by Will Friedwald.
  11. ^ Ginell, Richard S. . ((( Charles Mingus > Biography ))). Allmusic.com. allmusic (previously All Music Guide) is a Metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. Retrieved on 2008-02-26. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin of Ptolemy 's Nabonassar Era 364 - Valentinian I is proclaimed
  12. ^ Santoro, 2000
  13. ^ JIMMY KNEPPER. The Independent article by Steve Voce.
  14. ^ Library of Congress press release, June 11, 1993. Rule, S. "Library of Congress buys Charles Mingus Archive", New York Times, June 14, 1993

External links

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