Search - Charles Mingus :: Black Saint & the Sinner

His finest album

finulanu | Here, there, and everywhere | 02/13/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A record Mingus himself famously declared his masterpiece, and you know what? I think he's right. Yeah, this is his best release! And correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure this was one of the first concept albums. I mean, come on, it's a jazz ballet. That is beyond artsy. The tracks all run together as one, there are repeated musical themes, and, um... actually, that's about all I've got to back up my "concept album" theory. But hey, isn't that all a concept album needs? Of course it is. And hey, it's a fantastic concept album! A clear influences is Ellington, who had a similar "classical jazz" approach, wrote several famous suites of his own, and also worked with massive bands. Plus the brass-heavy sound definitely can be attributed to the Duke. But Mingus had interests in free jazz and Spanish music that I'm pretty sure are almost entirely absent in Ellington's catalog, which are taken into account as well. The result is something unique and fascinating, an album that can be rigid and organized as any classical work or an explosive free-jazz meltdown. Mingus' eclectic taste in music highlights the record - where else can you find an album that contrasts big-band trombones and muted trumpets with whirlwind flutes and Spanish guitar breaks? Or fantastically insane melodies that burst into chaotic, but always listenable ensemble soloing? Now, all this would be for nothing if the music itself was terrible, but it's far from it. The piece winds through a wide variety of emotions, evoking calm, happiness, ecstasy, confusion, rage, and so on in a way that nobody else but John Coltrane. It's ambitious for sure, but ambition is just a part of the Mingus experience, and besides the guy's got enough talent to back it up. If you're interested in jazz, give it a listen. If you're interested in unique music, give it several listens. If you're interested in both, play it daily."