Artist: Charles Mingus Album: The Clown

Year: 1957
Duration: 56:58

A Critical Review of The Album: The Clown by Charles Mingus

If you're looking for an album that combines Jazz, blues, and avant-garde, The Clown by Charles Mingus is the perfect choice. Mingus was a bassist, composer, and bandleader who has made a name in the music industry with his exceptional talent and unique music style. He has given us numerous classic albums, but The Clown stands out as one of his finest masterpieces.

In this blog post, we will provide a critical review of the album - The Clown by Charles Mingus and give you insights into its best songs, most innovative parts and provide a brief history of the artist and the music genre of the album.

Charles Mingus was a prominent jazz musician known for his fluid and expansive style of composing. The Clown, released in 1957, demonstrated his talents as a composer and arranger. The album was his tribute to his longtime collaborator, drummer Max Roach, and his musical partner and fellow bassist, Oscar Pettiford. Though the album predated the avant-garde jazz experiments, it was a landmark of the jazz genre.

The album begins with the upbeat tune Haitian Fight Song. With this track, Mingus establishes the album's rumbling low notes and brassy blasts, creating a bold and robust sound. Next up is the title track, The Clown, that features an extended spoken-word monologue. The track tells a story of a clown unable to find joy in life, and its crescendo builds to a bleak and powerful climax.

One of the most innovative parts of the album is Mingus's use of his ten-piece band. He intricately blends classical blues into the album without overwhelming the jazz genre. The track Tonight at Noon is an exemplar of this, starting like a love song but escalating into something more significant with the addition of tempos and dialogue.

The Clown reaches a poignant high point with the track Goodbye Pork Pie Hat. It was written as a tribute to saxophonist Lester Young, often called Prez. Mingus played with Young early in his career, and it's clear that their musical relationship profoundly affected him. The track is a beautiful ballad, full of sorrow and mourning, but also a loving tribute to a lost friend.

On the whole, The Clown is a triumph of imagination, innovation, and expression. Mingus's skilled jazz arrangements blended with his emotional and introspective storytelling in this album made it an instant classic. A critical review would not be complete without a few critiques. It is true that some moments on the record feel a bit meandering, especially with the spoken word on the title track, but even those moments add to the album's overall brooding mood.

The Clown by Charles Mingus is a must-listen for anyone who enjoys jazz, blues, or avant-garde. Its skilled arrangements, expert musicianship, and emotional depth make it a classic of the jazz genre. Mingus's passion for his art, storytelling, and the people he respected created an album that resonates to this day. It's a testament to his creativity and innovation and a hallmark of the genre that will continue to inspire new listeners and musicians for generations to come.