Happy Birthday Chazz: Mingus at 92
Sean MurphyToday would have been (and, still is) Charles Mingus's 92nd birthday. I've written about him often and I'll continue to write about him, not only because he is one of…
The Song Remains The Same or, The Agony of Influence (Revisited)
Two thoughts from T.S. Eliot: April is the cruelest month... Whatever. Good poets borrow; great poets steal. Now we're talking. And here is where it gets interesting: debate rages (well,…
Yusef Lateef: R.I.P., Gentle Giant
We have lost one of the great, indeed one of the greatest, ones. Yusef Lateef, aged 93 years young, was finally stopped by cancer on December 23. I say…
Your Holiday Shopping List or, My Island of Misfit Toys
If you're wise (and/or foolish) enough to take my advice seriously, here are some of my favorite things from 2013. If you are looking for gift ideas, for yourself or…
Five for Mandela
Some directly, some indirectly inspired by the great man. (Bonus!)
10 for NYC by 10, on 9/11
New York City would be unimaginable without jazz, and vice versa. Here then is a tribute for --and by-- several musicians who help define and celebrate the cultural mecca of…
The Real Life Fable of Charles Mingus and Orval Faubus (Revisited)
On Sept. 4, 1957, Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus called out the National Guard to prevent nine black students from entering Central High School in Little Rock. Charles Mingus had many…
Thoughts on the Olympics, Improvisation and Jay Adams (Revisited)
The Olympics, particularly the two most popular sports from each season—the gymnastics and figure skating—sells itself, accurately, as an embodiment of competition and tension, complete with a touch of voyeurism.…
Mingus Speaks. We Listen.
Charles Mingus did not do small. He was a big man, with big appetites, big ambitions, big grievances, big passions, big skills, and above all, a big vision. By any…
Eric Dolphy at 85
Eric Dolphy would --and should-- have turned 85 today. He remains one of my favorite musicians of all time. My tribute, reposted several times over the years, is below. ***…