Charles Mingus: Volatile, Angry, There has never been anybody in jazz quite like him

Who was Charles Mingus? Volatile and complicated, Charles Mingus was also a brilliant jazz bass player, skilled performer, composing works that are easy to listen to but much trickier to play.
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#charlesmingus #bass #jazz #jazzbass #goodbyeporkpiehat #moanin #fablesoffaubus #theclown #charlesmingusinterview #charlesmingusdocumentary

[@tedallenwolff]

I got to see him once at a small jazz club in Boston in the early 1970s. He seemed to go into a kind of trance at one point, possibly channeling Danny Richmond, whose name he shouted out. One of his most beautiful recordings was on solo piano, where he improvised pieces spontaneously, kind of like what Keith Jarrett did on The Koln Concert and others.

[@winstonsmith8240]

I fell in love with Charlie Mingus the first time I heard him. What a talent.

[@DonDeering]

It took me a couple times. I was 7 or 8 first time I heard him. It was "Oh Lord, Don't Let Them Drop That Atomic Bomb On Me," on The Great American Dream Machine, a program my Dad was watching. Years later, after I had already fallen for him after hearing MINGUS MINGUS MINGUS MINGUS MINGUS, I got OH YEAH! and there it was. The memory of watching TV with my Dad in 1968 came rushing back.

[@andyokus5735]

Joni Mitchell had to convince Mingus to have Jaco play Bass on the " Mingus " album. Jaco's horn arrangements on" The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines" was brilliant!

[@billepperson2662]

Tell me about it... Actually hoping this channel does a video on him (if you're reading this, I can help!)

[@andyokus5735]

@@billepperson2662 My first pro band was in 1978 in Ft. Lauderdale FL with Bobby Herzog who wrote " Come on Come Over".

[@billepperson2662]

@@andyokus5735 Whoa, no way! Anything we can hear? Are you still in contact with him?

[@andyokus5735]

Bobby died when he was 42 of a heart attack. Bobby Oconomo told me back in 1996.

[@FrshJurassicPrnceYA]

Your voice fits well with narrating the life of Charles Mingus. And the background music was great choice too. Charles Mingus was definitely a complex figure yet an integral one for Jazz music.

[@elahem6940]

Brother, that's AI text to speech software

[@FrshJurassicPrnceYA]

@@elahem6940 Say it isn't so 😆

[@jahi5]

Johann Sebastian Bach was known to be violent during his time! Went to jail a few times and stories of sword fights between him and musicians in his orchestra. Interesting how we look up to certain composers and confound others… Great Video!

[@c.h.graham115]

Charles Mingus and Ellington (ably assisted by Strayhorn) stand at the pinnacle of jazz... and Mingus was also a virtuoso bassist.

[@jazzfan7491]

I love his late career records with the George Adams - Don Pullen group (which continued on after his death and made many great records of their own). They are full of beautiful compositions.

[@Vantablkg2023]

Im in tears listening to this. Thinking "What could have it been..."

[@roberttemple2521]

Goodbye Pork Pie Hat was the first tune I learned to read music for, back in 1981 when I was just twenty-five. I have played that tune on piano more than any other. In recent years, I have learned to play it on diatonic and chromatic harmonicas, too. Joni Mitchell's addition to the tune is perfect. She happens to be unrequited love number one for me. So, Goodbye Pork Pie Hat is a very moving, moody ballad for me. Thank you for this informative clip.

[@jamesrichardson3322]

I have read Charlie Mingus Beneath the Underdog and his other autobiography about 25 years ago. He was brilliant Bassist and pure genius composer. Love music behind the video, What are the pieces of music and the artist. Do a video on Bassist/ composer Charlie Haden

[@charliecoolpepper3947]

I love your work!!! The series are amazing and Mingus is one of my top inspirations, great video!

[@onetrackjazz]

Glad you like them!

[@hivemindclips151]

great talent can’t wait to explore more of his music

[@orchidlilly7518]

Love & Thank-you Alexander*

[@brendanmcnally9145]

I really enjoyed listening to this. You speak so beautifully. but your writing is also awesome!

[@onetrackjazz]

Thanks for listening

[@mxmllrguitar]

Thank you for making this great video!

[@DonDeering]

Thank you, that was an excellent talk. Somehow, you managed to not mention my favorite album, MINGUS MINGUS MINGUS MINGUS MINGUS (Impulse, 1963). It swings and rocks harder than anything. Mingus redid several songs from AH-UM, and said that he finally got them the way he wanted them. I love that record.

[@1986mumbles]

Thanks! I love Mingus.

[@peterpiece2102]

It was a nice work. Thanks for this..

[@paulrodberg]

you're presentations are top class. thank you.

[@marshalmcdonald7476]

Black Saint and Sinner Lady is a genius album.

[@kevinsplinter8595]

Cool. Thanks For Sharing

[@onetrackjazz]

Thanks for watching!

[@kevinsplinter8595]

@@onetrackjazz No problem

[@FlintFandango]

Very interesting - thanks!

[@jerrychetty2524]

Thanks for your post

[@onetrackjazz]

You are welcome

[@madcharlie5863]

Amazing video , what do you think about John McLaughlin and John and Alice Coltrane

[@BrianBurgess-jg6bs]

Superb!

[@onetrackjazz]

Thanks a lot!

[@SavageSheesh]

Fantastic, been waiting for something like this about Mingus. Can you please give the title of the background track and from what album? Would be greatly appreciated

[@onetrackjazz]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4rHmIufj7mgZs0 ... 2nd track, but all 3 songs are great!

[@SavageSheesh]

@@onetrackjazz Awesome! Thanks for the info... The reason I asked is because when the horns first kick in, it sounds just like Mingus, so I thought it may have been an obscure Mingus song I missed. Thanks again!

[@CaiusV.]

Thank you 😎

[@onetrackjazz]

You're welcome 😊

[@gioigeniale]

As double bass player he is my idol, as maniac he aint an Idol...

[@nicolasfrost17]

Amazing video

[@onetrackjazz]

Thanks!

[@andyscott5277]

My brother’s Jazz History teacher at UCLA was Gerald Wilson, and when he was discussing Mingus said something to the effect of "Mingus was a great bass player, but son of a b!tch still owes me money from playing dice!" 😅

[@Vantablkg2023]

Excuse me. I happen to be captivated by the background track under the narration. Please let me know the credits to the writer of the music, thanks.

[@onetrackjazz]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4rHmIufj7mgZs0

[@Vantablkg2023]

@@onetrackjazz Thanks.

[@lanebrain55]

good one

[@onetrackjazz]

Thanks

[@BlindMellowJelly]

I dont understand the title. Apparently, folks don't remember Les McCann and Eddie Harris. Mr Mingus was really a gentle soul but often white folks tested him and he would lash out. I admired that when I was 9 but by age 16 I was thinking this is not my path forward.

[@carlosmacmartin4205]

Interesting documentary. What was his connection to Mexico? I read he was born on the US side in Nogales and died in Cuernavaca. Did he have Mexican ancestry and/or family down in Mexico? 🤔

[@CorbCorbin]

His father was stationed there, as a Buffalo Soldier, in the Army. Charlie grew up on the segregated base, before the move to Watts, in LA. He was sundering from Lou Gehrig’s disease(amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), for about a year before his death by heart attack. I only know he went to Mexico, looking for treatment. As there was no treatment for ALS, and many folks would try anything, before he passed. It’s really just trying to make one comfortable, while the disease kills them. Mingus had a big resurgence in the 70’s, becoming more well known and doing festivals, as well as intimate gigs, having one of the best periods of his life, after writing and releasing his autobiography, in 1971. It’s not really a true biography, as he fictionalized a lot, but I think he’s just one of the rare people, who admit to that when releasing their own biography. Many will say names are changed, or things are left out, but not many admit to just being semi-fictional. It’s been awhile since I really got into Mingus, but I remember some stuff. His wife had him cremated, and scattered the ashes into the Ganges River. *in his autobiography, Mingus stated that his mother was born to an English/Chinese man and a South American woman(her heritage could be anything), while his mother was born to a black farm worker and a Swedish woman.

[@marSLaZZ66]

A true Genious !

[@zakblackhawk204]

What is the background music? I don't think it is a Mingus composition...

[@onetrackjazz]

"May I Ask" by Magnus Ringblom Quartet

[@blindteo5808]

Thank you for this I still believe Mingus is very underrated

[@albertbrown359]

My brother. Mingus is not underrated. He is highly appreciated by those who know the history. Mingus is a Giant. His high intellect was not respected by many of his racist peers in the music who were payed to play for him in his band and orchestra. Jimmy Knepper was a bad pick for his band because he was known to be racist anyway. Mingus wanted an arrangement played a certain way and Knepper disobeyed live on stage. I have many friends who know this to be a fact. Please dont be blown in the direction every wind blows. Peace and good health to you.

[@Scion-cy6wj]

Underrated?!?!?! He's universally recognized as one of the top 3 or 4 composers in Jazz - and also as a great bassist. Books-articles-dedications-artwork - all reflective of him. Tribute bands (the best of which were led by Dannie Richmond). ALL of his work is available on CD. Most of that has had numerous reissues as radio play and sales remain relatively strong. You may need to get out more, LOL.

[@blindteo5808]

@@Scion-cy6wj bro even with all that I personally still think he's underrated and my opinion is mine and yours is yours and thank you very much but I do get out plenty. Thank you very much

[@Scion-cy6wj]

@@blindteo5808 Mine isn't "opinion" - the facts are out there for anyone to see. He is VASTLY, WIDELY highly regarded in Jazz literature, recordings, sales, radio-play, and was even awarded a medal by the American president.

[@blindteo5808]

@@Scion-cy6wj who do you think you are to tell me about my opinion? I was trying to be nice but there is something wrong with you. Let it go dude. Get a life

[@jessenowells2920]

Commercialization makes everybody angry.

[@NoahSpurrier]

His talent for playing came from hard work. His talent for composition came from God. Wish we had more Mingus among us.

[@bechet12]

No none captured the spirit of the marginalised black man than Mingus. I consider him the most dangerous of the jazz composers because if his Jekyll Hyde persona. He is half Ellington half Mingus. I respect him as composer but don’t like him because he lacks emotional control except when he’s channeling Ellington.

[@johngomez7314]

He wasn't happy because of racism

[@albertbrown359]

You've got it.

[@andrewjohnson8232]

Jazz ignoramus here - trying to learn. Anyone tell me what's being played here? It's gorgeous.

[@onetrackjazz]

"May I Ask" by Magnus Ringblom

[@andrewjohnson8232]

@@onetrackjazz Many thanks.

[@johngomez7314]

He had a fight with Jackie McLean. McLean stabbed Mingus, he just missed his heart. When Mingus died at 57 in Mexico, 57 whales beached themselves on a Mexican beach

[@joelfortin6634]

McLean did not actually stab Mingus. He pulled a knife on him but there was no stabbing.

[@Scion-cy6wj]

1) The (physical) fight you are talking about never happened. 2) The whale story is just another 'fish story.' Please don't post crud on here.

[@tomsmith522]

Mingus was bipolar in my humble opinion.... great musician and composer.. but not a happy person which was a shame considering all he had to be grateful for in his life 🧬🎶🎼😊♾️

[@bryanlund2730]

Some people go their whole life unhappy.Sometimes it's early life conditioning a person cannot overcome.Sometimes it's the spiritual curse of being far more sensitive than the average human.Deep sensitivity can erupt into violence.Its being misunderstood by the conformist elite. I understand what it is to be bi polar and to be a musican. But mingus was a real star that will always shine.