CHARLES MINGUS — Jazzical Moods, Vol. 1 (review)

CHARLES MINGUS — Jazzical Moods, Vol. 1 album cover Album · 1955 · Third Stream Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
js
Apparently the word jazzical is supposed to imply the mixing of jazz and classical music, and in subtle and creative ways, that is what we get on one of Charles Mingus’ earliest recordings, “Jazzical Moods I”. Although some musical elements of “Moods” will appear on later Mingus records, in many ways this short album is very unique in the Mingus discography. The “classical” music that is influential on here is not of the historical variety, but instead reflects the modern harmonies of the time and often sounds like Stravinsky’s later twelve tone influenced works for small ensembles. The jazz on here is likewise modern and abstract, with odd arranged parts coming and going against interplay from soloists who seem to be working with a mix of improvisation and arrangement, although some accounts claim that most, or almost all of this music was written out.

The mixing of concert hall music with jazz is a risky endeavor, and there is plenty of cheezy music out there that is evidence to that fact, but the two genres mix seamlessly on “Jazzical Moods I” into a true hybrid that often features a walking bass that implies jazz, but these pieces could easily be played side by side at a concert with music by Milhaud or the aforementioned Stravinsky. Lots of great playing on here from folks like Thad Jones and Theo Macero, but the real plus is you get to hear Mingus on piano, whose very personal and quirky style lands him in a camp with other odd individualists like Monk and Ellington.

What is referred to as “chamber jazz” these days quite often has nothing to do with real concert hall music, but instead presents a sort of trumped up pop music played with utmost somber seriousness. “Jazzical Moods I”, on the other hand, comes from a time when chamber jazz actually meant a new and experimental combination of current tends in both jazz and concert hall music. For those who have an interest in these early 3rd stream endeavors, “Moods” is better than most, it has some real grit and soul that can sometimes be lacking in composed jazz pieces.

“Jazzical Moods I” is a product of an interesting period in jazz music, experimenters were on their own, trends had yet to be tagged and grouped by the media, and opposite camps had not yet been drawn up in an imaginary war of windmills. You won’t find too many records like this one, not even in Mingus’ discography.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

New Start Fusion
TOM KENNEDY
Buy this album from MMA partners
Love Songs Live Avant-Garde Jazz
JOHN ZORN
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Data Avant-Garde Jazz
MATTHEW SHIPP
Buy this album from MMA partners
Peace Post Bop
SADAO WATANABE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Remy Le Boeuf’s Assembly Of Shadows : Heartland Radio Progressive Big Band
REMY LE BOEUF
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

??·??·?·???·?·????
SADAO WATANABE
snobb· 12 hours ago
"Miles Between" // by Shawn Schlogel & Nancy Erickson Lamont
NANCY ERICKSON LAMONT
js· 1 day ago
Mature Hybird Talking
FRANK GRATKOWSKI
js· 2 days ago
Perspective (Peace & Love)
ISAIAH COLLIER
js· 3 days ago
T-SQUARE 45th Anniversary Celebration Concert & Tour 2023 @Zepp Nagoya ?CLIMAX?
T-SQUARE
js· 3 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed