A Mingus Among Us (Happy Birthday, Charles!)

[Jim Cohen]

Today, April 22nd, 2009
Charles Mingus would have been
87 years old.

Over the course of his musical career
he played with the likes of Louis Armstrong,
Lionel Hampton, Max Roach, Charlie Parker,
and Eric Dolphy, among many others.

On this day, we celebrate
the life that he lived,
and the music that he shared.

http://www.jazzonthetube.com/page/140.html

[Jon Light (deceased)]

I'm not a student of bass---I have no obsessions that have led me to study on bass player styles and come to know their personal sounds etc. There are other instruments where I can name the player after listening to a little playing--sometimes after just a couple of notes. This statement applies to most of us, I would think. But for me bass is not one of those instruments. Except for Charles Mingus. I can think of no other bass player that has as distinctive and personal a touch, sound, style. VERY un classical. Not a pretty tone by 'standard' standards.
I only saw him once. He was obese and had trouble getting on to the stand. I had no idea that he was deteriorating with ALS. I don't know if was a secret or if I just wasn't paying attention. But no matter---he played a kickass set with a killer band with Don Pullen and George Adams. This was after the release of Changes One & Two.

I just remembered---years earlier, the first jazz album I ever bought was a Mingus album with Eric Dolphy. I wore it out.

One of the more complex, dislikable, brilliant, admirable artists---player, bandleader, composer---we've known.

[Richard Damron]

I celebrate the priviledge of having seen and heard him several times all too many years ago. The memories are no longer as vivid as they once were but recognizable enough to prompt a smile and, perhaps, a little finger poppin'. Thank you, Charles.