Search - with Charles Mingus :: Modern Jazz Symposium of Music & Poetry

Plenty of music (and a little poetry)

svf | 02/24/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A welcome addition to the Mingus CD universe from the Bethlehem vaults, "Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry with Charles Mingus" is an elaborate title for another fine session from the late 50s. Most tracks are mid-to-up-tempo jams, while some feature characteristic Mingus mood & tempo shifting as well (especially on the interesting track "New York Sketchbook").The "poetry" referred to in the title is present only on the first track, "Scenes in the City," where a narrator reflects on life in New York, jazz, landlords, women, being broke, etc. while accompanied by Mingus' sweetly lyrical and raucously swingin' music... hey, it works!"