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The centenary of the birth of Charles Mingus, in April 2022, has served to reinforce his importance in Twentieth Century music. His “achievements surpass in historic and stylistic breadth those of any other major figure in jazz.” (New Grove Dictionary). Mingus could be angry, even violent, but also loving and tender. All aspects of his complex character find expression in his music. It has a vast emotional palette and a unique way of expressing defiance and dissent.
One of the main events marking the centenary was a concert at the Philharmonie in Berlin on 13th April 2022 in the series curated by Siggi Loch. ‘Jazz At Berlin Philharmonic: Celebrating Mingus 100’ is a live recording of six of the Mingus compositions from that concert. At one level, it was ‘just’ a concert. There were no protests. No basses or chairs were deliberately broken. Nobody took a shotgun and aimed it at a lightbulb. And yet, as is clear from this recording, each and every one of the nine musicians who appeared on stage at this concert - they had mostly not known each other before the project started - threw her or his entire musical essence into this concert, while staying true to Mingus’s
spirit.
Tracklist
Jelly Roll
Fables of Faubus
Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
Boogie Stop Shuffle
Self-Portrait in Three
Colors
Better Git It in Your Soul
Soundwave
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh_kJRg8YlM