Charles Mingus Essay -- Biographies Biography Mingus Essays

Charles MingusCharles Mingus was born on 22 April 1922 in Los Angeles, California. His father get together the army in 1915 after a frustrating career in the post office. His mother diedonly five months after Mingus was born.The times were problematical in Los Angeles, as more and more poor people migrated intothe city, and the small suburb of Watts turned into a black ghetto inside of a singledecade. But young Mingus was pretty much protected from all the kindly pressure.His family was basically middle-class. His father has remarried, and Mingus stepmother had concisely taken an dynamical role in his education. Mamie Carson Mingusencouraged her step-children to take an interest in medicine. This has soon taken shapein the form of violin and piano lessons for Mingus senior sisters.Apart from the sound of his sisters practicing, the only music allowed in the housewas unearthly music picked up through the radio. But the radio in any case opened Mingusfor African-American musi c, namely Jazz and Blues. The trips to the local churchwere also musical as well 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 assort to his parentsthat he had a cracking ear. At age six Mingus was presumption a trombone. After a few years offrustrating musical experiences, it was suggested that Mingus pick up the cello. Ashis interest in Jazz grew, particularly after listening to Duke on the radio, he becameconvinced that the bass was his instrument.Mingus starting line bassist role model was Joe Comfort, who play with Lionel Hamptonand Nat King Cole. Comfort lived in the same(p) neighborhood, and was playing gigswith the musicians that Mingus grew up with. However, true inspiration came frommeeting Red Callender, who came from the einsteinium Coast and played with the likes ofLouis Armstrong. 16-year old Ming us became a devout follower and good friend. Thesound that would later identify Mingus, full yet sharp, comes from directly fromCallenders influence. Another major influence on all young bassists of that design isthe work of Jimmy Blanton with the Duke Ellington orchestra, which had broken newground in foothold of the exposure of the bass as a solo instrument and its unparalleled 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 morphologic irregularity was finally completely realized. E particular(a)ly the two centerpieces in both albums, Sues Changes and Orange Was the Color of Her Dress,Then Silk Blue, depict this clearly. Although the bass part is less pronounced then in preceding years, owing to Mingus deteriorating health, the other players more than makeup for this, and render his music in a way which is true to his aesthetics.Mingus died on 5 January 1979 from Amyotrophic squint Sclerosis. In the last twoyears of his life he has at sea the ability to play and later the use of his whole body.Mingus last plant 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, plot of ground 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 whole meal flour Mingus.