The Armpit Collection XXXIV: Black, Saint, Sinner

Charles Mingus is relentless in what he does. His music contains a ferocity and intensity that is unmatched. Nowhere have I been more attracted to stoking chaos in the midst of intellectual forms. The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady is his most accomplished work. And you can also enjoy him here.

1. Track A - Solo Dancer (6:20)
Stop! Look! And Listen, Sinner Jim Whitney!

2. Track B - Duet Solo Dancers (6:25)
Hearts' Beat and Shades in Physical Embraces

3. Track C - Group Dancers (7:00)
(Soul Fusion) Freewoman and Oh, This Freedom's Slave Cries

4. Mode D - Trio and Group Dancers (17:52)
Stop! Look! And Sing Songs of Revolutions!

Mode E - Single Solos and Group Dance
Saint and Sinner Join in Merriment on Battle Front

Mode F - Group and Solo Dance
Of Love, Pain, and Passioned Revolt, then Farewell, My Beloved, 'til It's Freedom Day

Taken from the extensive liner notes:

"Last and least is me. Mingus. I wrote the music for dancing and listening." - Charles Mingus

"To me this particular composition contains Mr. Mingus' personal and also a social message. He feels intensively. He tries to tell people he is in great pain and anguish because he loves. He cannot accept that he is alone, all by himself; he wants to love and be loved. His music is a call for acceptance, respect, love, understanding, fellowship, freedom - a plea to change the evil in man and to end hatred. The titles of this composition suggest the plight of the black man and a plea to the white man to be aware. " - Doctor Pollock (his psychologist)

Voyeurs and Gunslingers

Gene Smith had 1,740 reels of tape in his collection when he died. I highly suggest diving into one of the few forms of media attached to The Jazz Loft Project. I've listened to all of the WNYC broadcasts so far and there's a lot of sides to this that give cool insight into the greatest rock in the world, concrete jungle nyc. Hearing about the way this guy lived his life as an artist is inspiring, let alone the people he managed to surround himself with.



RADIO SERIES


OFFICIAL SITE

The Armpit Collection XIII

Mingus Ah Um

"My whole conception with my present Jazz Workshop group deals with nothing written. I 'write' compositions--but only on mental score paper--then I lay out the composition part by part to the musicians. I play them the 'framework' on piano so that they are all familiar with my interpretation and feeling and with the scale and chord progressions to be used. Each man's particular style is taken into consideration, both in ensemble and in solos. For instance, they are given different rows of notes to use against each chord but they choose their own notes and play them in their own style, from scales as well as chords, except where a particular mood is indicated. In this way I can keep my own compositional flavor in the pieces and yet allow the musicians more individual freedom in the creation of their group lines and solos."

This is the first jazz record I really got into. My thinking is that it represents a well conceptualized link between the old (big band swinging type jazz) and the coming (free, improvising intellectual type jazz). There's also a lot of communal blues power in this record. Listen for Fables of Faubus...that main horn melody makes me want to crack open an ice tray, fill up my glass with ice and bourbon.