autilio@hogpc.UUCP (P.AUTILIO) (04/19/84)
I feel obligated to mention Charles Mingus risking the possibility that he's been brought up already. In spite of the fact that he is no longer living his compositions remain standards in jazz repertoires today. "Goodbye Porkpie Hat" is the best example of this. Why was Charles Mingus a great bassist? I would say fire and originality. Mingus was an angry man and a renegade throughout his life. His playing and composition reflected that. His albums are often fascinating, inciting, and delighting but rarely relaxing. The best thing I can do is recommend some albums to the uninitiated: Passions Of A Man - A three record anthology of his greatest works Blues and Roots - A wild romp through bop and the Blues. Great sax work. The Great Charles Mingus Concert - For Avante Garde lovers. Eric Dolphy loses it several times on this one. I'd would like to hear from anyone who can recommend some Mingus work to me. Pat Autilio hogpc!autilio LZ 3F-310 (201)576-3547
ellis@flairvax.UUCP (Michael Ellis) (04/24/84)
My favorite Mingus is the `Saint and Sinner Lady', a 45 minute composition that's still in print, I think, and is full of sweet as well as monstrous driving noises. The insane brutal rhythms that dominate the 2nd half of this piece should be heard by all lovers of anarchy. -michael