Charles Mingus Essay -- Biographies Biography Mingus Essays

Charles MingusCharles Mingus was born on 22 April 1922 in Los Angeles, California. His fatherjoined the army in 1915 after a frustrating career in the post office. His mother diedonly five months after Mingus was born.The times were hard in Los Angeles, as more and more unretentive people migrated intothe city, and the sm all in all suburb of Watts turned into a black ghetto inside of a singledecade. But young Mingus was pretty much protected from all the social pressure.His family was basically middle-class. His father has remarried, and Mingus stepmother had briefly taken an active role in his education. Mamie Carson Mingusencouraged her step-children to take an interest in practice of medicine. This has soon taken shapein the form of violin and piano lessons for Mingus older sisters.Apart from the sound of his sisters practicing, the only music allowed in the housewas religious music picked up through the radio. But the radio also opened Mingusfor African-American music, namely Jazz and Blues. The trips to the local churchwere also musical as advantageously as spiritual. The yelling and shouting in the church wereactually not so different from the sounds of a big band. Mingus had also taken to thepiano, just by lifting the lid and trying the keys, and it had become clear to his parentsthat he had a good ear. At age six Mingus was given a trombone. After a fewer years offrustrating musical experiences, it was suggested that Mingus pick up the cello. Ashis interest in Jazz grew, especially after listening to Duke on the radio, he became convinced(p) that the bass was his instrument.Mingus first bassist role model was Joe Comfort, who played with Lionel Hamptonand Nat King Cole. Comfort lived in the same neighborhood, and was playing gigswith the musicians that Mingus grew up with. However, true inspiration came frommeeting bolshie Callender, who came from the East Coast and played with the likes ofLouis Armstrong. 16-year old Mingus became a devout follo wer and good friend. Thesound that would later identify Mingus, full moon yet sharp, comes from directly fromCallenders influence. Another major influence on all young bassists of that period isthe work of Jimmy Blanton with the Duke Ellington orchestra, which had broken newground in terms of the movie of the bass as a solo instrument and its unique rolein Ellingtons compositions.Arou... ...es Two, with George Adams on tenor and avant-gardepianist Don Pullen. The full power of Mingus music with its frequent tempo changesand structural irregularity was finally completely realized. Especially the two centerpieces in both albums, Sues Changes and Orange Was the Color of Her Dress,Then Silk Blue, show this clearly. Although the bass part is less pronounced then inearlier years, owing to Mingus deteriorating health, the other players more than take a shitup for this, and render his music in a way which is true to his aesthetics.Mingus died on 5 January 1979 from Amyotrophic Lateral S clerosis. In the last twoyears of his bread and butter he has lost the ability to play and later the use of his whole body.Mingus last works as a composer are songs he composed for Joni Mitchell by singinginto a tape recorder. He was honored by many tributes after his death from his fellowmusicians. Of special notice is the Epitaph project, led by Gunther Schuller which, bandage in my humble opinion is not very successful, tries to recapture the special spiritin Mingus music. Today the music of Mingus is still being played by the Mingus BigBand, formed by his widow Sue Graham Mingus.