It is similar to other albums on this list in that it crosses back and forth between standard and avant-garde jazz. Black Fire takes some unexpected twists and turns that make each song memorable. RK: With a backing band of Joe Henderson, Roy Haynes, and Richard Davis, it would be hard not to create a classic album. Or, as Ryan told me, “It’s all complicated, but it sounds like it’s the easiest thing in the world… those motherfuckers.” But it was learning about and then listening for the syncopation, the time changes, the tension building (especially on the title track)… it goes back to my comment about hearing new things with repeated listens. Does it sound great? Hell yes - just listen to fly-as-hell drummer Roy Haynes slay on “ Subterfuge” (and the rest of the record). And as someone who doesn’t play music, that’s what makes an album like Black Fire so interesting. His innovation spanned every step of composing, performing, and recording.ĪM: When Ryan and I were discussing Black Fire and what made it such an interesting album, we circled back to a point that can be made about a number of the picks on this and our first list: they’re relatively easy to listen to, but trying to actually play their music? That’s another story. An innovative Mingus technique is that he would cut and splice tape from recordings to get the final take, which was not standard practice in jazz at the time. Not this group, though, because they sit back as far as possible on the beat. The tunes are complicated, which usually makes musicians rush. Everything on here just sounds so damn good and even suave at times (“Fables of Faubus”!), but the best part about it? Well, that just may be listening to it and envisioning Mingus enjoying a cigar during every take and in between rocking the hell out of his bass. And then there’s “Boogie Stop Shuffle,” a joint that sounds lifted from a ‘50s-era police chase scene.
This record bursts out of the gate with a straight-up capital-J jam with the gospel-infused “Better Git it in Your Soul.” The playful brass, the handclaps, the jubilant shouts - you’ll feel this one in your bones. But when I finally checked out his material, I was hooked, especially upon hearing Mingus Ah Um. It’s like binge-watching Arrested Development for the fifth time and thinking to yourself, “Holy shit, I never picked up on that joke before.”Īnd just like last time, I have the honor of my buddy/all-around jazz cat Ryan Kowal providing bits of insight for each selection on this list, which he also helped put together.ĪM: I arrived to Charles Mingus’ music later than the other giants of the genre for one simple reason: His The Clown artwork frightened me. You may be taken by the sax or trumpet at first, only to get swallowed by the bass, drums, piano, etc.
But that’s OK! These albums are classics and their leaders are masters for a reason - you don’t just throw these on and instantly understand what you’re hearing.įor me, and hopefully you, too, those repeated listens are part of what makes listening to jazz so goddamn fun. As taken as I was by John Coltrane, I didn’t really feel like I “got” his approach for several years (and I still don’t think I’ve completely “got” it, either). I know I have, but I also know that didn’t happen overnight. Or maybe you’ve already fallen in love with the music.
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