Charles Mingus
 

Because quite frankly, he's the greatest jazz bassist to ever walk the planet. Without him, we never would've had the greats that followed such as Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorious and Dave Holland. Not to mention Mingus was a prolific writer too. Newbies to his music should start with Mingus Ah Um, The Mingus Dynasty and Tijuana Moods. Once you've had the chance to let that seep into your brain, then go for the more non-accessible stuff like his masterpieces The Clown, Pithecanthropus Erectus, Five Mingus and The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady.

Let's hear the love.

I bow before Mingus on all days of the week. My favorite jazz leader, except for Miles and Trane. I would say he's the best upright bassist of all time, but not best jazz bassist period, I think (I'm not a bass player, but I get the feeling) that electric and upright are played too differently for the players to be compared.

My personal favorite three Mingus records would be Black Saint, Pithecanthropus Erectus, and Mingus at Antibes, in that order.

Well in skill terms, Pastorious and Clarke are probably better... But you are right, he is a top canidate for best upright bassist of all time... In greatness terms, he's way up there.

I LOVE Mingus.

Wonderful, wonderful bassist.

Well, I prefer Jaco Pastorius over Mingus as a bassist.

But I love Charles Mingus. I have Minor Intrusion and Prebird which are both great albums.

Amazziinngggggg

All I have to say about him is Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus!!!!

Pretty much a bad-ass bassist. I remember we played Haitian Fight Song in my high school jazz band, that tune just kicks. We didn't do it near enough justice but that song has so much power no matter how you play it.

Major props to Mingus.
MASSEY HALL, SON.

In Memoriam: Charles Mingus

I sat be
side the man / his
ruined, round
body / eyes of a
sultan, sandweary & all
encompass

ing / fat, black
pudgy fingers ancient
eyes

: you know me for

sure
Charles Mingus / got
nuthin to

say got unthin
to ask of your vastness
Your sadness

old as notes
the soul neglects / got
nuthin to

give you back
for what you blew

Got
nuthin but
the slow, sad weight
of

2
huge
hands

2 urns
to hold the ashes
of

a
man's
gesture

moving pensively
on the dense piano
like

God's
presence on the
still face of the

hushed
waters

-Mikhail Horowitz

Nothin' but love for the ho but Jaco is better.

My first introduction to him is the album 'Mingus Ah Um' which I bought a few days ago for £3. To say I am blown away is an understatement. There is some incredible stuff going on on this album. Cannot wait to hear more.

Mingus Is Amazing
 

Let My Children Hear Music is absolutely wonderful! One of my favorite albums - across all genres.

= <333333333333

Mingus Ah Um > Birth of the Cool

Nuff said.

All I have is a "Best Of" type collection of his music but I absolutely love it. Anyone have any recommendations?

I was reading about cats on wiki the other day and found this: :D

Mingus Ah Um
The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Blues & Roots
Mingus Dynasty
The Clown

Honestly, his entire discography is pretty flawless. He was a phenomenal bassist and a spectacular composer. He never received as much respect as Coltrane, Davis, etc, but he is just as talented a compositional genius as them. As I stated before, I think Mingus Ah Um rivals the best in jazz, and that's certainly saying something.

Scored this today. My copy has 3 bonus tracks and 6 original tracks in unedited form, I am also blown away. Brilliant record.

Mingus is my favourite composer/writer for any genre of music...

Black Saint and the Sinner Lady is definitely my favourite. Solo Dancers blows me away every time, no matter how many I have spun it recently. Its a bloody exciting song. I also love the introduction to Group Dancers, piano almost makes it sound like a classical record, and in itself, it becomes a masterpiece with the introduction of the spanish guitar and the flute. Awesome piece.

Other albums I love (Not all of them despite being solid throughout his catalogue) include:
The Clown
Mingus at Antibes
Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus
Pithecanthropus Erectus
Pre Bird
Tijuana Moods

Though I love the avant garde/progressive big band sound, I actually loved his move to more traditional sounds in Pre Bird, and his move to other cultures in Tijuana Moods and The Clown (Haitian Fight Song). Some marvelous works throughout his entire catalogue. I can always rely on Mingus to be able to come back to and be blown away again and again...

BTW you're welcome 4ZZZ :p:

Haa haa. Mate on your recommendation I will be getting Black Saint and the Sinner Lady next time I head into the shop that gets a lot of my hard earned. Had another play of Ah Um and have been into The Necks Chemist. No idea why ;)

Good to hear people appreciating the work of Mingus...

And I now have high hopes for Chemist ;)

The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady is one of those... You know, 'masterpieces'. An immaculate composition, but sadly I spent so much time soaking into it that I didn't branch out on the man much. Still so much of his discography to discover...

Mingus was the artist that got me into jazz.

The Black Saint totally blew me away when I first heard it.

Mingus made so so many good albums

Be sure to check out LET MY CHILDREN HEAR MUSIC. Later even weirder stuff

I listened to Mingus Ah Um for the first time this summer and completely fell in love with it. Now I'm looking to get The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady and Blues & Roots as well.

You won't regret it :) The man is a genius

Personal favourites: The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus
Though pretty much everything he touches is gold.

Ok, I'm definitely guilty of fangirlism.

Listening to Charles Mingus Black Saint and the Sinner Lady :)

The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady is incredible. The Clown and Mingus Ah Um almost match it.

Another album which also deserves a mention was one of his last : Cumbia and Jazz Fusion. This is an album with just two tracks and a rather misleading title, as it doesn`t really sound like cumbia or fusion at all.
You don`t even have to like jazz to enjoy the first track, which logs in at 28 minutes and starts with whistles, birdsong and an irresistibly cheerful theme. Enjoy! - I bet the musicians did.

Is there anything better sounding than in Haitian Fight Song when the trumpets come wailing? Gets me every time.

I got Black Saint and the Sinner Lady from the public library the other day, and it is incredible! The texture of this music is amazingly rich and interesting. They are definitely some of the greatest jazz compositions I've heard, maybe the best. I'm looking forward to hearing more of his works.

I based one of my college admissions essays off of The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady's liner notes. Everything about that album is amazing. It's one of the most personal albums I've ever listened to, yet it hits home with so many different people at the same time. The translation of personal ideas to communal ones is a true artistic talent, and Mingus was one of the most talented in that regard.

My personal ranking of his albums:

1) The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
2) Blues & Roots
3) Mingus x5
4) Mingus Ah Um
5) Let My Children Hear Music
6) Mingus at Antibes

... I'd have to spend some more time figuring out the rest.

i love Cumbria & Jazz Fusion

(i may be the only one)

I feel almost improper for posting after Howard. I hope you're slaying in the after life. Shine on you crazy diamond.

Heard this Mingus track. Loved it. Throwing it on the old record player.

Mingus was THE man, period. Mingus Ah Um, all the way, pure classic. You should also check the Mingus Big Band, which Boris Kozlov currently leads.