Mingus Orchestras Part III: Salvage
The attempts by Charles Mingus to work with supersized bands in his own lifetime were plagued by logistical, musical and personal obstacles. A combination of inadequate rehearsals, changes forced by promoters and record companies, the ambitious nature of Mingus' orchestral vision, (and in no small part Mingus' own famously explosive temper) conspired to make appearances by a Mingus Orchestra rare and frustrating for all concerned.
In fact some of the highlights of these concerts came not from the planned and arranged tunes, but from spontaneous music that was created in some ways to cover up for the often abysmal playing and sightreading!
The October 1962 New York "Town Hall Concert" was the first attempt by Mingus to record his Epitaph suite, and became one of the most famously bungled gigs in the history of jazz. The entire, almost unbelievable saga is recounted by Gene Santoro in the Village Voice (thanks to be.jazz for posting this recently!). As midnight approached and the concert slowly dissolved into chaos, trumpeter Clark Terry started the opening riff from Ellington's "In a Mellow Tone". The band quickly caught on, and the performance is exciting because it is completely unrehearsed, and born out of total frustration. We hear solos by Pepper Adams (bs), Clark Terry (tp) and Britt Woodman (tb).
Mingus' New York "comeback" concert in February 1972 was perhaps less eventful, but again the juggernaut barely kept itself on the rails. At the end of a less-than-satisfactory first half, Mingus tried to reignite the evening by launching into a funky, dirty blues. Gene Ammons (ts) followed his lead, and the resulting jam (named "Mingus Blues") is one of my favourite Mingus recordings.
Charles Mingus Orchestra - In a Mellow Tone
From The Complete Town Hall Concert: Blue Note 28353 2 5 [Buy]
Charles Mingus Orchestra - Mingus Blues
From Charles Mingus and Friends in Concert: Columbia C2K 64975 [Buy]
In fact some of the highlights of these concerts came not from the planned and arranged tunes, but from spontaneous music that was created in some ways to cover up for the often abysmal playing and sightreading!
The October 1962 New York "Town Hall Concert" was the first attempt by Mingus to record his Epitaph suite, and became one of the most famously bungled gigs in the history of jazz. The entire, almost unbelievable saga is recounted by Gene Santoro in the Village Voice (thanks to be.jazz for posting this recently!). As midnight approached and the concert slowly dissolved into chaos, trumpeter Clark Terry started the opening riff from Ellington's "In a Mellow Tone". The band quickly caught on, and the performance is exciting because it is completely unrehearsed, and born out of total frustration. We hear solos by Pepper Adams (bs), Clark Terry (tp) and Britt Woodman (tb).
Mingus' New York "comeback" concert in February 1972 was perhaps less eventful, but again the juggernaut barely kept itself on the rails. At the end of a less-than-satisfactory first half, Mingus tried to reignite the evening by launching into a funky, dirty blues. Gene Ammons (ts) followed his lead, and the resulting jam (named "Mingus Blues") is one of my favourite Mingus recordings.
Charles Mingus Orchestra - In a Mellow Tone
From The Complete Town Hall Concert: Blue Note 28353 2 5 [Buy]
Charles Mingus Orchestra - Mingus Blues
From Charles Mingus and Friends in Concert: Columbia C2K 64975 [Buy]
Kea @ The Remarkables, Queenstown, NZ, August 22nd 2005
I am .pdf. Oh Dear.
posted by etnobofin @ 19:29
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