Charles Mingus – The Clown (Mono)

Mingus lets the music answer

With The Clown, Charles Mingus also wanted to make a point. In the liner notes he explained that he had deliberately selected four pieces that demonstrated his feeling for swing. Yet this music, recorded in 1957, goes far beyond an answer to critics. It brings together blues, remembrance, protest and a narrated story. Shafi Hadi, Jimmy Knepper, Wade Legge and Dannie Richmond give those ideas distinct voices. As bassist and composer, Mingus holds them together while allowing the personalities of his musicians to remain audible.

The recordings came from two New York dates. The title piece was recorded at Audio-Video Studios on February 13; the other three pieces followed at Atlantic Studios on March 12. Nesuhi Ertegun supervised the production. Behind the single album sleeve are two working days and four musical ideas worth exploring individually.

A narrator, a trombone and a clown

For the title piece Mingus invited radio storyteller Jean Shepherd. Shepherd improvised his narration within an agreed concept: a clown’s search for recognition takes a bitter turn. Jimmy Knepper’s trombone has a particular role in the piece. Mingus described Knepper as its musical leader, with the other players working around him.

That relationship invites attentive listening. Does the ensemble follow the narrator, comment on him or pursue its own course? This is a piece to give uninterrupted attention. Shafi Hadi also changes instruments: he plays tenor saxophone on the title track and alto on the other three selections. The same five instrumentalists can therefore produce a different balance of voices without changing personnel.

Blues, protest and a memory of Bird

Mingus explicitly connected Haitian Fight Song with thoughts of prejudice, hatred and persecution. That personal stance belongs to the history of the composition. He described Blue Cee as a blues in C and B-flat, hearing suggestions of Count Basie and church music within it. Reincarnation Of A Lovebird is dedicated to Charlie Parker. These are three different starting points: lived social experience, musical tradition and the memory of another artist.

Following the individual parts offers a rewarding route through the album. What do the horns carry, when does the piano emerge, and how do bass and drums respond? The compact ensemble makes it possible to become familiar with each voice. Returning to the record can then reveal relationships that passed unnoticed on an earlier listen.

The Clown in the Atlantic 75 Series

This Analogue Productions mono edition places the four compositions on four sides of two 180-gram records running at 45 RPM. Each piece occupies its own side. Kevin Gray cut the edition at Cohearent Audio, and the label identifies the original master tape as its source. A Stoughton tip-on gatefold completes the presentation. The series includes QRP pressings, while later unnumbered copies may also come from RTI. A particular number or pressing plant can only be confirmed for the actual copy.

The side arrangement suits an album whose four parts each reward their own attention. Pausing after a side before moving into the next idea is a welcome way to spend time with Mingus and these musicians.

You order from Michael 45 in Germany. We arrange the US import and dispatch from Hilden.

More from the series: Atlantic 75 Series

Also on SACD: The Clown

More by Charles Mingus: Oh Yeah · Pithecanthropus Erectus

Customer questions: Atlantic 75: which titles are worth buying? · Buying Analogue Productions records in Europe

Series: Atlantic 75 Series – all 75 albums, time journey and the people behind Atlantic

Musicians

Participants and documented credit status. Track references correspond to the tracklist.

• Charles Mingusdouble bass, composition, bandleaderParticipation: Album personnel
• Shafi Hadialto saxophone, tenor saxophoneParticipation: Alto: A–C · tenor: D
• Jimmy KneppertromboneParticipation: Album personnel
• Wade LeggepianoParticipation: Album personnel
• Dannie RichmonddrumsParticipation: Album personnel
• Jean Shepherdimprovised narrationParticipation: D

Shafi Hadi: alto saxophone A–C, tenor saxophone D. Jean Shepherd improvises the narration on D only. Produced by Nesuhi Ertegun.