Customer Reviews

Me Myself & Eye

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I bought this album because I was a drummer, loved jazz and was touched by Mingus' music. I had already attended two Mingus concerts, in Porto Alegre and in São Paulo. I tried to talke to hom once, but he angrily sent me away.

The last time I listened to this record was some 20 years ago. I let a friend (a bass player) borrow the album, and he never gave it back. In fact, he broke it to pieces. He later told me that the music was so strong, he just could not take it.

One of the things that I most appreciate in Mingus' recordings is that one can feel a compelling drive, it simply is not music to listen carelessly.

Someone already said that the music is angry - I must concord, sometimes it is. But there are examples of beauty - altough not always easy beauty. Listen to the ballads (I love Mingus ballads). But they are sad. Why is slow music so often sad?

And the preaching - oh, the preaching! Take "Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting", for example. Mingus brings this strong quality to music. It is very affirmative. One cannot be indifferent to what is being exposed.

This, combined to a very particular rhythmic quality, is the one thing that, in my opinion, sets Mingus apart from the rest. Mingus groups don't play "clean" and comfortable. Brass attacks are not "quantized" to the beat, but the instrumets rush to the time. It's frankly disconcerting but powerfully moving. Once you get the hang for that, all the rest seems square. Danny Richmond, who played drums with Mingus for many years, must have something to do with that.

Other notable musicians were drummers Steve Gadd and Joe Chambers, who teamed with Danny Richmond and percussionists Sammy Figueroa and Ray Mantilla for the side-long track "Three World of Drums".

The album has another bonus, too. Mingus decided to use guitars - and electronic effects too! Larry Coryell, Ted Dunbar and Jack Wilkins help create "walls of sound" that separate drum and percussion solos.

Winds and brasses complete the "who's who" list of jazz musicians.

I would include links leading to more info, but I reckon it is not allowed.

I was forever moved by Mingus. What I am going to write next is not about this album, but... I was very impressed when I attended a concert by the Mingus Dinasty Orquestra. More so after I discovered that the trombonist had been (years before) punched in the mouth buy Mingus, and spent some time without playing... Well, after Mingus dies, he comes back to play that incredible music! By the way, Mingus did not play in this album. He was on a wheelchair, ill. Bassists were Eddie Gomez and George Mraz. Mingus bands allways sounded as if it was the most important gig of all times.

Music with lots of personality.