The Genius of Mingus

Charles Mingus, bassist and composer, just might be my new favorite jazz artist. The tri-racial Mingus, part white, part black, and part Chinese, was fiercely proud of his African American identity and the music of black America. As a child, his mother only allowed him to listen to gospel, and his love for the music of Duke Ellington and other swing legends was a persistent influence on his music throughout his life. Indeed, Mingus often composed songs in honor of previous jazz legends, such as 'Goodbye Pork Pie Hat,' a tribute to tenor saxophone legend Lester Young of the swing age. Mingus Ah Um and Blues and Roots contain tributes to Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, and gospel-tinged songs such as 'Better Git It In Your Soul.' Moreover, Mingus also composed civil rights/protest jazz, like my favorite drummer, Max Roach. Sharing a black nationalist outlook, the two also started their own record, label, Debut Records, founded in 1952, to challenge the white-owned entertainment industry.


Two of his protest/pro-black/civil rights songs that I consider his best are "Original Fables of Faubus," an attack on the racist segregationist governor of Arkansas who refused to integrate Little Rock Central High School. Listen to it here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtwxJJkMUF8
This live recording features the original vocals and avant-garde legend Eric Dolphy on alto saxophone. The  album version on Mingus Ah Um lacks vocals because Columbia refused to allow Mingus to record it with the critical and justified angry lyrics. Here's a sample of the lyrics below: 


Name me a handful that's ridiculous, Dannie Richmond.
Faubus, Rockefeller, Eisenhower
Why are they so sick and ridiculous?

Two, four, six, eight:
They brainwash and teach you hate.
H-E-L-L-O, Hello.


The song also contains musical references to famous songs, such as the spiritual 'Wade in the Water' and contains Eric Dolphy's 'free' jazz solos and rapid tempo changes. In short, this rendition of 'Faubus' is undoubtedly the best.


My other favorite song of his pertaining to racial injustice is 'Haitian Fight Song,' which is really a bluesy hard bop song from his 1957 album, The Clown. It begins with solo bass by Mingus and throughout the song, the tempo changes and the solos are all-around amazing, including an extended bass solo at the end. Mingus could only play this song when thinking about racism and poverty, and of course one can just imagine Haitian slaves singing this song during their battles with white supremacist colonial oppressors. Another reason I appreciate the song is because it truly is a tribute to the Haitian Revolution and expresses the transnational impact of it on black Atlantic consciousness. The rapid tempo changes, human-like brass that emulates shouts and screams, and the moments of calm perfectly express the emotional range of war.  


In addition to his black nationalist interests, Mingus also composed the fantastic 1963  jazz suite/symphony/ballet, The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, which I have listened to repeatedly recently. The aural pleasure from this album is ineffable. Mingus tackles everything from classical, jazz, blues, flamenco, and Latin music to write such a stunning album. The first 3 songs, shorter pieces that repeat the same theme with additional variations, feature amazing solos, partly inspired by blues and jazz traditions, partly inspired by the avant-garde and Latin music. The flamenco guitar breaks on the final tracks provide moments of Andalusian rest from the moaning dissonances and multiple layers of sound combating for the listener's ears. Words cannot express the greatness of this music. The combination of Ellington's colored tonal big-band sounds, the contemporary avant-garde in jazz, Latin influences, and voice-like brass (perhaps another influence of Duke Ellington, from his 'jungle' period at the Cotton Club in the 1920s and early 1930s) form some of the best music you'll ever hear in your life. The variety of emotions contained within show the deeply troubled soul of Mingus, who demonstrated signs of mental illness and couldn't control his temper.


The only thing left to say is go listen to Mingus now. If you care about bass, jazz, composing, civil rights, African-American history, or just music, don't deny yourself the entertainment and terror of Charles Mingus. 

Haitian Fight Song