**** Charles Mingus
THE BLACK SAINT AND THE SINNER LADY
(Impulse! /GRP)
Mingus's most penetrating, cohesive, and exotic extended work of the '60s,
this extraordinary tone poem was recorded in January 1963 by 11 musicians.
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady bears much comparison to Ellington
in scope, passion, and writing -- less so in its sweep, leitmotifs, fluidity of
tempo, and rhythmic complexity (12/8, 2/4, 9/8, 6/8). Notations on its six
sections indicate dancers; the music moves with lynxian grace through a few
huge speed-ups and slowdowns, with ruminating recitatives. Solo cameos emerge
for primary colors in Mingus's tonal palette: searing alto-sax cries by Charlie
Mariano, yowling plunger-muted trombone by Quentin Jackson, the quizzical
soprano and searching baritone sax of Jerome Richardson, Ducal piano splashes
by Jaki Byard. A surprise late guest to the dance, Jay Berliner's guitar strums
compelling flamenco that exceeds even Mingus's Tijuana Moods "Spanish
tinge." One of the essential jazz masterpieces.
-- Fred Bouchard
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