Charles Mingus (22nd April 1922 – 5th January 1979) was an American jazz ba… Read Full Bio ↴Charles Mingus (22nd April 1922 – 5th January 1979) was an American jazz bassist, composer, bandleader, and occasional pianist from Los Angeles. He was also known for his activism against racial injustice.
Mingus' legacy is notable: he is ranked among the finest composers and performers in jazz, and recorded many highly regarded albums. Dozens of musicians passed through his bands and later went on to impressive careers. His songs - though melodic and distinctive - are not often recorded by later musicians, due in part to their unconventional nature. Mingus was also influential and creative as a bandleader, recruiting talented and sometimes little-known artists whom he assembled into unconventional and revealing configurations.
Nearly as well known as his ambitious music was Mingus' often fearsome temperament, which earned him the nickname "The Angry Man of Jazz". His refusal to compromise his musical integrity led to many onstage explosions, though it has been argued that his temper also grew from a need to vent frustration. Ironically, a perfect show could irritate him by closing this outlet.
Mingus was prone to depression. He tended to have brief periods of extreme creative activity, intermixed with fairly long periods of greatly decreased output.
Most of Mingus's music retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music while sometimes drawing on elements of Third Stream Jazz and free jazz. Yet Mingus avoided categorization, forging his own brand of music that fused tradition with unique and unexplored realms of jazz. Mingus focused on collective improvisation, similar to the old New Orleans Jazz parades, paying particular attention to how each band member interacted with the group as a whole. In creating his bands, Mingus looked not only at the skills of the available musicians, but also their personalities. He strived to create unique music to be played by unique musicians.
Due to his brilliant writing for mid-size ensembles - and his catering to and emphasising the strengths of the musicians in his groups - Mingus is often considered the heir apparent to Duke Ellington, for whom he expressed unqualified admiration.
By the mid-1970s, Mingus was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Mingus died, aged 56, in Cuernavaca, Mexico, where he had traveled for treatment and convalescence. His ashes were scattered in the Ganges River.
Mingus' legacy is notable: he is ranked among the finest composers and performers in jazz, and recorded many highly regarded albums. Dozens of musicians passed through his bands and later went on to impressive careers. His songs - though melodic and distinctive - are not often recorded by later musicians, due in part to their unconventional nature. Mingus was also influential and creative as a bandleader, recruiting talented and sometimes little-known artists whom he assembled into unconventional and revealing configurations.
Nearly as well known as his ambitious music was Mingus' often fearsome temperament, which earned him the nickname "The Angry Man of Jazz". His refusal to compromise his musical integrity led to many onstage explosions, though it has been argued that his temper also grew from a need to vent frustration. Ironically, a perfect show could irritate him by closing this outlet.
Mingus was prone to depression. He tended to have brief periods of extreme creative activity, intermixed with fairly long periods of greatly decreased output.
Most of Mingus's music retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music while sometimes drawing on elements of Third Stream Jazz and free jazz. Yet Mingus avoided categorization, forging his own brand of music that fused tradition with unique and unexplored realms of jazz. Mingus focused on collective improvisation, similar to the old New Orleans Jazz parades, paying particular attention to how each band member interacted with the group as a whole. In creating his bands, Mingus looked not only at the skills of the available musicians, but also their personalities. He strived to create unique music to be played by unique musicians.
Due to his brilliant writing for mid-size ensembles - and his catering to and emphasising the strengths of the musicians in his groups - Mingus is often considered the heir apparent to Duke Ellington, for whom he expressed unqualified admiration.
By the mid-1970s, Mingus was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Mingus died, aged 56, in Cuernavaca, Mexico, where he had traveled for treatment and convalescence. His ashes were scattered in the Ganges River.
Bird Calls
Charles Mingus Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Bird Calls' by these artists:
Teitur The way that we flock no matter what follow the flyways…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Charles Mingus:
A Foggy Day I was a stranger in the city Out of town were…
a Ghost of a Chance I need your love so badly, I love you, oh,…
All The Things You Are You are the promised kiss of springtime That makes the lonel…
Blue Moon Blue moon you saw me standing alone Without a dream in…
Body My heart is sad and lonely For you I sigh, for…
Boogie Stop Shuffle Le lols Les Wizs Les calmez calmez calmez Les lols Les wizs…
Caravan Night and stars above that shine so bright The mystery of…
Cherokee Sweet Indian maiden, since first I met you, I can't…
Do nothin Someone told someone and someone told you But they wouldn't …
Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me Someone told someone and someone told you But they wouldn't…
Don Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
East of the Sun East of the sun and west of the moon We'll build…
Embraceable You Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you! Embrace me, you irrep…
Foggy Day I was a stranger in the city Out of town were…
foggy day "|"--"|"--"|"--"|"--"|"--" I was a stranger in the city Out of town were…
How High the Moon Somewhere there's music How faint the tune Somewhere there's…
I This lovely day will lengthen into evening We'll sigh goodby…
I Can I've been around the world in a plane Settled revolutions in…
I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me Yesterday you came my way, And when you smiled at me, In…
I Can't Get Started I've been around the world in a plane Settled revolutions in…
I Left My Heart In San Francisco I left my heart in San Francisco. High on a hill…
I Want to Be Happy I'm a very ordinary man Trying to work out life's happy…
I X Love I often wonder why he came to me Brought such a…
I'll Remember April This lovely day will lengthen into evening We'll sigh goodby…
I'm Getting Sentimental Over You Never thought I'd fall, But now I hear love call, I'm gettin…
I've Got You Under My Skin I've got you under my skin. I've got you deep in…
In the Still of the Night In the still of the night As I gaze out of…
It Might As Well Be Spring I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm I'm as…
Jeepers Creepers I don't care what the weatherman says When the weatherman sa…
Laura You know the feeling of something half remembered Of someth…
Like Someone in Love Lately, I find myself out gazing at stars, Hearing guitars…
Little White Lies The moon was all aglow But heaven was in your eyes The…
Long Ago Long ago and far away I dreamed a dream one day And…
Lullaby of Birdland Lullaby of Birdland, that's what I Always hear when you…
Me and You Someone told someone and someone told you But they wouldn't …
Medley: You Go To My Head You go to my head And you linger like a haunting…
Mood Indigo You ain't never been blue; no, no, no, You ain't…
New Now Know How Marsinggang ho inang, di lage podomanmi. Manangiangkon, mana…
Old Devil Moon I look at you and suddenly Something in your eyes I…
Paris in Blue When I hear that Serenade in blue I'm somewhere in another…
Pennies from Heaven Every time it rains, it rains pennies from heaven Don't you…
R & R You are the promised kiss of springtime That makes the lonel…
Santa Claus Is Coming Into Town I just came back from a lovely trip along the…
September Song Oh, it's a long, long while from May to December But…
Serenade in Blue When I hear that Serenade in blue I'm somewhere in another…
Sophisticated Lady Sophisticated lady tryin' to change my ways Just because you…
Stardust And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
Strollin' Strollin′, While strollin' through the park On a lovely but …
The Clown Man, there was this clown, and he was a real…
The Soul My heart is sad and lonely For you I sigh, for…
There's No You How did I know that the warmth of the glow…
Weird Nightmare Weird nightmare You haunt my every dream Weird nightmare Tel…
What Is This Thing Called Love I was a hum-drum person Leading a life apart When love flew…
You and Me Someone told someone and someone told you But they wouldn't …
You Go To My Head You go to my head And you linger like a haunting…
Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
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postatility
One of the greatest records ever made.Ever.By anyone.At any time.Any genre,any musical category.This album remains on my "Desert Island Disc" list,over 40 years since I first encountered it,even after hundreds of listenings.It represents the very Best of jazz,which means the very best of the American spirit. See--you can be very patriotic and very hip at the same time.
Mooser42001
This album has been with me since childhood. I'm sixty and it still holds up, both in jazz content and recording. In fact, it's held up much better than I have.
roberto pithon
One of the most important musicians in jazz history
synerhi
Booker Ervin KILLS it here!! Probably my favourite solo of his. That last 2/5/1 lick is to die for. Would’ve loved to have seen the sax sections faces when Mingus handed them this chart 😂 along with Joe Henderson’s “In N’ Out”, this has to be one of the most challenging heads to a standard
Reaper679
I love how this album's track names actually kind of sound like their descriptions
Sean Lynch
I saw Mingus and Co. several times 73-75, at the Village Gate, with Richmond, Walrath, Neolms and a young Ricky Ford tenor. Was great to pay 5,6 dollar cover and then get to meet ( and buy a drink) at the bar in such an intimate room and experience to me, the greatest jazz composer ever. But Charlie was a mean SOB. Saw him stop the tune and berate a band member more than once. But he's still my favorite! Then comes Sonny!
Lori Joy Fine Art Channel
this song flies like a bird- i listen to it over and over
Ethan Hill
This is my third listen tonight.
Ethan Hill
Might be best tribute to another artist ever recorded.
Vnarves
Drum solo at 4:25 even features some snare rolls and rides that sound like the flaps of bird wings 0.o