Jazz Articles about Charles Mingus

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Charles Mingus: Tonight at Noon

by Joel Roberts
November 8, 2004

A valuable reissue for Mingus fans, Tonight at Noon compiles five tunes originally recorded for two of the great bassist's most important album's, 1957's The Clown and 1961's Oh Yeah. Though the two sessions cover somewhat different stylistic ground, they blend together seamlessly and amount to much more than a haphazard assemblage of dusty outtakes.

The earlier session is the more restrained of the two, with Mingus and a typically responsive quintet (trombonist Jimmy Knepper, alto saxophonist Shafi Hadi, pianist ...

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The Great Concert of Charles Mingus

by Joshua Weiner
September 9, 2004

Charles Mingus The Great Concert of Charles Mingus Verve 1964/2004

For all that it has survived over the past century, jazz music can be a fragile thing. Its reliance on improvisation and near-telepathic communion between group members means that for something truly transcendent to occur, the stars must be aligned in a way they rarely are. If we add in the hope that such a magical event might be heard by more than a ...

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The Man That Was Mingus

by R.J. DeLuke
March 8, 2004

Myself, When I Am Real Gene Santoro Oxford Univ Press ISBN: 0195097335

Charles Mingus stands as one of jazz music’s imposing figures. Imposing because of the breadth and depth of his music, but also for his charisma and at time tempestuous personality.Like many great artists, his was a life not easily understood, in part because it is so multi-faceted and so many things go into the makeup of such people. ...

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Clues and Roots: Tracing the Genius of Mingus

by Alan Jones
February 6, 2004

When I first heard the music of Charles Mingus it was if I had been struck violently from underneath, yet the subsequent fall was a welcome descent embodied by contemplation and a strange sense of satisfaction. The record was Blues and Roots, and the moments of discovery in the listening journey since have been few and far between.

The function of the bass in small ensembles has always been of great interest to me. Bass players, the really ...

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Tonight At Noon

by AAJ Staff
December 19, 2003

The title of this topic is intended as an obvious reference to Charles Mingus. I hope this discussion will attract sufficient posts of Mingus, who is without question one of the key figures in jazz history, whose music is still being explored, and will provide fertile ground for exploration for decades to come.

I think we need to view Mingus in three areas: as a bassist, as a composer, and as a bandleader/talent scout.

As an instrumentalist, Mingus helped lead ...

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Duke Ellington: Money Jungle

by Jim Santella
August 1, 2002

The dramatic character of this album’s title track tells you from the start that few trio jam sessions have ever carried so much weight. Recorded in 1962, it brought together three definitive leaders in this field we call jazz. Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus and Max Roach interpreted a program of swinging Ellington material. His “Money Jungle,” “African Flower,” “Very Special” and “Wig Wise” were introduced to the listening public for the first time with this LP. Blue Note ...

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Charles Mingus: The Very Best Of Charles Mingus

by Mike Perciaccante
June 7, 2002

Mingus was a genius. The music on this CD is incredible. Anything that Mingus recorded was incredible. This being the Very Best Of, what does one expect, but fantastic performances. The only real complaint her is why one CD an not two. Mingus released enough “must have" classic compositions, that two CDs would be the most logical configuration for a Very Best Of.

The CD includes eleven tracks. They are, in order: “Pithecanthropus Erectus," “Profile Of Jackie," “Tonight At Noon," ...