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Charlie MINGUS

"A foggy Day / Blue Cee"

(7". Atlantic. 1960 / rec. 1957) [US]

#charles mingus #1957 #usa #jazz #hard bop #jackie mclean #mal waldron #willie jones #j.r. monterose #curtis porter #jimmy knepper #dannie richmond #wade legge #7“s #records #Youtube

Parker’s Children

In terms of both playing and composition, ‘No Room For Squares’ was clearly Mobley’s Masterpiece. By this time jazz had begun to permeate the mainstream end of palatable and understandable bop driven lines. Jazz is often referred to as the American classical music, I do not hold this opinion. Instead I would describe it as the black classical music and at the time was seen as nothing more than the competitive nature of ostentatious soloists; the true subtleties of the genius were missed by the vast majority of listeners. The Caucasians with best efforts to emulate are possibly the only ones who truly knew as their efforts were found wanting.

My first exposure to jazz was at least a thousand titles prior to ‘Kind Of Blue’. Considering Miles before Clarke was so far removed it took me ten years to even dream of listening to the entire album. With this in mind I must state that Charlie Parker will always remain my benchmark. Coltrane undeniable, Rollins undeniable, Henderson undeniable, but Parker fathered and paved the way for them all. Complex time signatures aside, the bodies of work produced by some of these giants will never be surpassed, mainly because they were forged in a time of racial hardship and national disembodiment. Peer criticism of the harshest nature i.e. taking five, gave rise to the golden era.

I’ve read many reviews on Mobley’s 1568 and very few glimpse at the true genius of ‘Mighty Moe And Joe’ and the foundation of that genius being the inimitable Curtis Porter. Had he not returned to Mingus and had he not been politicised at a crucial age he may have stood head and shoulders above the pack, as we all know Mingus ruled with an iron fist and this policy may have stifled Porters growth.

So when asked why such an ‘average’ album could command such a massive price my response is that outside the pedants that prize collectability above performance remain the truly enlightened. John Fahey gets this, Eric Clapton does not.

The General