News featuring Charles Mingus

Tuesday 18th December

• “Take Five 2012: John Fordham's year in jazz”

  In the last Take Five of 2012, John Fordham picks his musical milestones of the year – and salutes the late jazz giant Dave Brubeck whose work gave this column its name. Tell us in the comments section below about your favourite jazz moments of the year, plus what you'd like to see John covering next month

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  Read the complete article at www.guardian.co.uk

Thursday 13th December

• “Jack DeJohnette: Special Edition – review”

  ECM, 4 CDs

  The words "great drummer" are usually appended to Jack DeJohnette's name – having played with Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, and for 30 years with Keith Jarrett, he's more than earned that title – but "great musician" would be better. This terrific four-disc collection brings together DeJohnette's various Special Edition bands between 1979 and 1984 – a period featuring the most broad-based and ambitious composing he has ever attempted. Earthy horn-voicings drawn from Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus, and wild free-jazz, raw-rock blues are framed in complex arrangements that suggested miniature orchestras: the Ellingtonesque flute counterpoint of Pastel Rhapsody; the edgier woodwind, brass, bass and percussion on Inflation Blues. Saxophonists Arthur Blythe, David Murray, Chico Freeman and John Purcell span the spectrum from post-Parker bebop to fiery chordless improv. DeJohnette's own playing is thrilling in its mix of subtle textures and battering dynamism – his solo-drums display…

  Read the complete article at www.guardian.co.uk

Tuesday 11th December

• “Bass Note: Mingus And The Jazz Workshop Concerts”

  Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a new, seven-disc Charles Mingus box set chronicling the jazz legend's mid-'60s live performances. The records, Whitehead says, "can be a little raw, as if the explosive music caught the engineers by surprise."

  Read the complete article at www.npr.org

Tuesday 27th November

• “Mingus Big Band – review”

  Ronnie Scott's, London

  When the Mingus Big Band began its Thursday-night residency at New York's Time Cafe in 1991, Charles Mingus had been dead 12 years, and several members were familiar from the great composer/bassist's own groups. Two decades later, skilful replacements have emerged to play Mingus's capriciously complex orchestral jazz, and in the creatively inexact manner he would have wanted. The irascible genius might have yelled for more cliffhanging wildness on this week's opening show at Ronnie Scott's, but the band sounded appropriately weighty and agile at once. As usual, rarely performed gems were pulled from the huge archive administered by the composer's widow and the outfit's long-time producer, Sue Mingus.

  Read the complete article at www.guardian.co.uk

Saturday 24th November

• “Boxed Sets of CDs and DVDs for 2012; Critics’ Picks”

  For fans of Charles Mingus, the Jackson 5, Heart and Amy Winehouse, among others, new gems and old.

  Read the complete article at www.nytimes.com

Wednesday 7th November

• “What to see at the London jazz festival”

  The London jazz festival starts on Friday 9 November, and here are our critics' picks of what to see – plus suggestions from performers including Robert Glasper and Gwyneth Herbert

  Guy Barker's Jazz Voices: Celebrating a Century of Song

  Read the complete article at www.guardian.co.uk

Sunday 4th November

• “Jazz on Film: Beat, Square & Cool – review”

  (Moochin' About)

  This is the second in what promises to be a definitive collection of jazz soundtracks to feature films. Following on from last year's film noir set, this five-CD box covers the late 50s and early 60s beat generation era, with eight scores by the likes of Duke Ellington, André Previn, Johnny Mandel and Charles Mingus. Films range from milestones such as The Wild One and The Connection to rare masterpieces Les Tricheurs and Shadows. Musicians heard include Gerry Mulligan, Jackie McLean, Shorty Rogers and the entire 1958 Jazz at the Philharmonic team. These collections are unprecedented in presentation and sound quality.

  Read the complete article at www.guardian.co.uk

Wednesday 24th October

• “A Charles Mingus Anecdote That Has Nothing To Do With Breasts”

  In 1961, the great bassist and composer started a long residency at a club in Queens, N.Y., called Copa City. It was a period of bold artistic statements from Mingus. Now, a new box set of live recordings immortalizes that moment in time, and why it can be called a "titty."

  Read the complete article at www.npr.org

Monday 22nd October

• “First Listen: Charles Mingus, 'The Jazz Workshop Concerts, 1964-65'”

  In 1964, a jazz great tried his hand at his own record label. A new seven-CD box set of live recordings from Charles Mingus Enterprises, much of it previously unreleased, is a monumental example of how a genius dedicated his life to his art. Hear a full 1965 concert recording from the collection.

  Read the complete article at www.npr.org

Tuesday 2nd October

• “Naytronix (No 1,363)”

  Merrill Garbus's Tune-Yards bandmate Nate Brenner has struck out on his own with a record about a post-apocalyptic future world. Don't be put off: it's really rather good

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  Read the complete article at www.guardian.co.uk