I have a veritable obsession with this composer.
He composed music that would mostly be categorized as jazz, but also composed "third stream" music---music that blurred the lines between Jazz and classical music. Despite this, he is often overlooked when compared to the popularity of other jazz greats such as John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, and Mingus's personal inspiration, Duke Ellington.
Start with his more straightforward stacking blues riff tunes:
If this sounds sort of familiar, maybe you like Cowboy Bebop. "Tank", the title theme sounds like a mash-up of Gunslingin' Bird (Full title: If Charlie Parker Was a Gunslinger, There'd Be A Whole Lot of Dead Copycats) combined with Boogie Stop Shuffle---at least, that's what I hear!
This track's from his more popular album Mingus Ah Um. It's a mashed up, slightly upbeat version of three of his previous songs: Slippers*, Nouroog and Duke's Choice, all three from his previous album A Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry.
Indeed, his earlier work was more moody and explorative. Take his piece Pithecanthropus Erectus from the eponymous album. I'd describe it as "jazz program music" but Wikipedia calls it tone poem. It tells a story through composed sections and carefully positioned wild jazz improvisation. CHECK IT OUT!
One of his best regarded works is his ballet of sorts, The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady. I can't really say anything more than this music is extremely powerful and moving for me, so I'll give you a couple of fun facts instead: the liner notes were partially written by Mingus's psychiatrist at the time and, partway through the last track of the album (around five and a half minutes in), you can hear The Mingus mess up on piano and exclaim "goddamnit!". Did I mention that Charles Mingus was known for his fiery temper?
Anyways, that's a short introduction to the underdog of Jazz and the third stream. I'd make a more comprehensive introduction to the Mingus, but I sort of had things to do tonight.. :/ (Yes, this is impromptu and rushed for me.)
Albums mentioned here: Blues & Roots; Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus; Mingus Ah Um; A Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry; The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady.
Also check out: The Clown; Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus; Tijuana Moods; Mingus At Antibes; Oh Yeah; Mingus Plays Piano; Let My Children Hear Music; Changes One; and Changes Two.
[small]*Wikipedia tells me this, but I don't really hear Slippers in the mix. Maybe the opening solo in Open Letter, but that's still kind of stretching it. In other words, [citation needed].[/small]
) but they're one of those bands you 'have' to like. The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Radiohead Etc. Insulting these bands is seen as blasphemy and is punishable by death. Or 40,000 messages from screaming teenagers. When I lot of people talk about why they're the best ever I get the feeling they've actually never listened to an album.
