When I noticed that my April show for Artform Radio would be broadcasting on Aprill 22nd, there was just no doubt at all what I would be focused, since this one would mark the 99th anniversary of the birth of one of my absolute favorite musicians of all time, Charles Mingus. The challenge then turned out to be two-fold, namely, what single mood could possibly encompass all of the many moods in Mingus’ music and after so many years in radio and so many tribute shows to Mingus, what music would I focus on? The former issue was settled fairly quickly, pretty much as soon as I sat down to think about it “mercurial” just made perfect sense. For better and for worse, there’s probably not a better mood to describe Mingus as a man, bandleader and musician. Once the mood was chosen (as almost always seems to be the case with this show), it became infinitely easier to choose which songs to include in the show. In the brief amount of time I had, I wanted to highlight that special quality of Mingus’ music, where there were at times unexpected changes in tempo, moments of incredible intensity, matched with some of the sweetest and more gorgeous sounds my ears have ever heard…no show is ever perfect, but on those fronts, I think this one was a success. Enjoy!
Moods In Free Time 016: Mercurial
Playlist: Moods In Free Time 016 – Mercurcial…For Mingus’ 99th
{opening theme} The Visitors – The Juggler – In My Youth (Muse)
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Charles Mingus – A Prayer For Passive Resistance – Mingus Revisted (Limelight)
Charles Mingus – Scenes In The City – A Modern Jazz Symposium Of Music and Poetry with Charlie Mingus (Bethlehem)
Charles Mingus –Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams – Newport Rebels (Candid)
Charles Mingus – Moanin – Blues & Roots (Atlantic)
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Charles Mingus –Wham Bam, Thank You Ma’am – Oh Yeah! (Atlantic)
Charles Mingus – Peggy’s Blue Skylight – Tonight At Noon (Atlantic)
Charles Mingus – Bird Calls – Mingus Ah Um (Columbia)
Charles Mingus – Better Git Hit In Your Soul – Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus (Impulse)
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Charles Mingus – Black Saint & The Sinner Lady: Group Dancers ({Soul Fuision} Freewoman and Oh, This Freedom’s Slave Cries) – Black Saint & The Sinner Lady (Impulse)
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Charles Mingus – All The Things You Could Be If Sigmund Freud’s Wife Was Your Mother – Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus (Candid)