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The centenary of the birth of Charles Mingus, in April 2022, has served to reinforce his importance in twentieth-century music. Mingus could be angry, even violent, but also loving and tender, and all of these aspects of his complex character are reflected in his music. As he once said, "I'm trying to play the truth of what I am. The reason it's difficult is because I am changing all the time."

Extremes of emotion are the very truth and core of Mingus's music, and they are reflected in the six compositions by him heard here, on "Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic - Mingus 100". The concert took place on 13 April 2022 The nine musicians who appeared on stage at this concert - and who mostly did not know each other before this project - each threw her or his whole musical essence into this project, while staying true to Mingus's spirit and to his unique way of expressing defiance and dissent.

There are other strong voices here. The first musical sounds to be heard on the album come from Austrian bassist Georg Breinschmid (b.1973). Beside reeds-player and arranger Magnus Lindgren, one of the co-leaders of the project. Two Americans are at the strong beating heart of the band: pianist Danny Grissett has had nearly two decades at the top level of the New York scene and has been a member of the Mingus Big Band. Drummer Gregory Hutchinson has worked in countless contexts, not least the Joshua Redman Quartet from 1998-2001. There are also two musicians who have made Germany their home. Since moving from Hungary to Germany in 1980, tenor saxophonist Tony Lakatos has appeared on over 300 albums and was a major presence in the Frankfurt Radio Big Band until 2021. The strong tone and improvising fluency of Australian-born trombonist Shannon Barnett, now based in Cologne, also prove ideal in this context. The home team from Germany, trumpeter Matthias Schriefl and young star saxophonist Jakob Manz both play as if their very lives depend on it.

Track Listing

Sales Points

• The Music of Charles Mingus

Press Quotes

'Baritone blowing like his influence Pepper Adams, Bertault scatting, trumpet screaming, bass, drums, alto, trombone all in there pitching culminating with what could have been an avant-garde group playing Dixieland or vice versa! This must have been quite a concert!'

     —Bebop Spoken Here (US)

'Played by a classy nonet this set of Charles Mingus material is full of the exultant, forward-charging energy of its composer. A tribute explicitly driven by expertise, gratitude and awe. ****'

     —John Fordham, The Guardian (GB)