The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady

"The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady" is a studio album by American jazz double bassist, composer and bandleader Charles Mingus. The album is a single composition partially written as a ballet and divided into four tracks and six movements. It blends jazz and classical styles integrating African music and Spanish themes. Mingus used an 11-piece band. This album is considered one of the best jazz records of all time. I'll back that from what I've heard. "Track A - Solo Dancer" starts with drums and multiple horns. I think a tuba gives a grinding sound in the background. Multple layers of horns (throughout this album too) and horn solos. The pace slows down with the bass plodding along. "Track B - Duet Solo Dancers" opens with a piano. Multple saxophones take center stage. Very seductive. The pace picks up into almost constructive chaos. A flute take the lead in the beginning of "Track C -Group Dancers." Ah, let's throw in a Spanish guitar. Lookout, everyone joins the fun. You could listen to this song ten times, just focus on one instrument and hear a different song. Together...gorgeous. And, they bring it altogether in the closer "Mode D," "Mode E" and "Mode F." All the instruments are involved. The pace changes constantly. They combine all of what they were doing before. The most dramatic of the pieces. A great ending. Yeah, this is one heck of a musical achievement. It is one of the most complex jazz albums I've heard with all the layers of horns. I'd say this is busy but in a good way. Mingus does give certain instruments space occasionally. It plays like a movie soundtrack at times. With my limited jazz experience, the albums I tend to like the best are the ones with different lead instruments and pace changes. This has that in spades. Fantastic.

no this gave me a headache sorry mr mingus:(

Intense album for an emotionally intense day July 1, 2023

Not a great listen -- on a plane, lots of noise, not loud enough -- but very interesting material indeed. I am aware of Charles Mingus and have listened to him on some recordings as a member of a group, but I haven't listened to an actual recording with him as the artist. Clearly some sort of avant modern dance accompaniment, this is interesting stuff. I see why he's referenced in the same breath as Miles.

Considering I am not a massive Jazz enthusiast, this wasnt too bad. I probably wont listen to it again but I did regret it.

Really cool jazz album! Mingus Dew!!!

Messy jazz

BORING. I don't even know of an occasion where you would play that!

This album is so wild. Really unique and love the ensemble improvisation and composition.

Really dug this and definitely going to revisit. Such masterful writing and arranging. I love jazz records like this that somehow manage to feel groovy and chaotic at the same time.

This was unreasonably busy

Not a huge jazz fan, but this was ok.

This is the jazziest jazz i've ever jazzed before.

Too much screechy sax

Really enjoyed this. Different to a lot of other jazz but I can’t quite put my finger on it. Obviously the Latin sound every now and then added something, but it was also bordering classical at times. Which is a strange combination having a very structured genre like classical, with improvised jazz. But it worked for me, will definitely be returning

Caught up with this one at the weekend, it was admittedly an odd gym soundtrack. I really liked it though, was what I want from jazz, trippy and inventive with lots of tempo changes. Must be an eventual influence on math rock as it definitely feeds the same part of my brain. Will put Mingus on in the background next time I'm trying to be classy.

I greatly enjoyed the artistic expression and variation, and general lack of theme and repetition throughout. Track 3 - Group Dancers, and the first 5-6 minutes of Track 4 (Mode D - Trio and Group Dancers) were my favourites. I don't think I'll return, as it isn't my thing, but I'm very glad to have listened. Avante-garde.

Like previous Jazz albums this was fine as background. I just don't think I like pure Jazz albums that much.

Too Jazzy for me! I was tired and jet lagged when listening to this and it just grated on me. Probably didn't give it a fair shout, but not sure how much more I would've enjoyed it anyway

Mjög töff og gaman að hlusta,

Can’t hack this, or almost any jazz really.

Está bueno el disco, es un instrumental movido muy copado.

It’s decent not my usual stuff but I enjoyed it 4/5

It’s been a long time since I’ve been in the flow of writing reviews on this site, so I’m not gonna say much right now but I did really enjoy this album. I hope I get more of his stuff in the future! 4.5

Pretty good classic ablum

Classic

Un très sympathique album de jazz jusqu'au moment où Charles libère son animagus en forme de lapin et se mette à déambuler devant Harry Potter et ses camarades en plein cours de potions. Pas nécessaire.

Charles Mingus nous offre deux première pistes de grand n'importe quoi, avant de progressivement débuter sa triple métamorphose. Charles Mingus évoluera dans un premier temps en Frédéric Chopin, proposant de piquantes notes de piano dans une ambiance des plus obscures. Charles Mingus passera ensuite à sa deuxième évolution, qui le fera devenir un guitariste des Gipsy Kings, enchaînant les solos de guitare latino. Enfin, Charles Mingus reviendra à son état initial, nous offrant un fouillis de n'importe quoi avec sa trompette de merde.

Absolutely beautiful jazz. Flows together perfectly and goes through incredibly interesting and jaw dropping territory along the way. Requires a full listen through every time, but as someone who doesn’t interact with raw jazz much, I was very very pleasantly surprised by my enjoyment.

Mingyyy

It's kinda like something they would play at a house of burlesque. I did enjoy it, though!

haha Mingus. He's got a horn.

This is probably good jazz but I don’t like jazz.

I really enjoy these jazzy instrumental albums - very fun and easy to listen to. This one is great.

Not a jazz guy. This was fine. Mingyyyyy

An entire album of jazz just gets tedious

Jazzalbum. Nicht ganz groß, aber gut.

Badass.

This album moves between sweet, beautiful composition and dissonant, frenetic energy with such grace and power. Those may sound contradicting, but it's just an album that contains multitudes, without ever needing to rely on voice or lyrics. A great showcase of Mingus' talent.

I... just don't know. This is extremely captivating and at the same time infuriatingly alienating. As someone who loves 'Goodbye Pork Pie Hat', this is... something else.

I don’t really get ballet. What I do get is Mingus. The grand ol’ angry man of the double bass tests your patience on this experimental piece of jazz history that seems years ahead of even some of his great contemporaries.

I love myself some jazz: Don't think I'll ever give a jazz album lower than 3 bc they're all so solid (unless it sounds like shit). This one is no different with it feeling like it could be in the background of a Bond film with its dark, sinister undertones. The artist may not have been the best person in real life but the music he made was enjoyable.

I like jazz, but this was only ok.

Really great jazz album, totally all over the place in the best way possible. So much more than just background music

No, no, no, nooooo, God no

I know this is good but my brain isn't used to it. Made me quite stressed? Loved how the trumpet sounded like a voice throughout.

Loved this album, Tidal had the master which has the audio that’s not mixed in mono. I feel like I understand my brain better after having to listen fully with both left and right ears. That experience feels like it’s how your brain is supposed to “dance” your sense feel alive. It’s emotional. But I clearly see why people love it, it’s like African, Spanish, and American while at the same time sounds like it was made it 1983 and not 1963. It’s crazy beautiful.

The Black Saint and The Simmer Lady was a forward thinking project that encapsulated feelings of fun, adventure, and mystery.

Solid jazz album, clear elements that have been taken to create the contemporary style were present. Jazz has the same power as artwork, it invokes a response.

This is some great background music, super chaotic

too boring zz

An album that I admire more than love sometimes. Definitely not background music, and you need to be in the right mood for it.

i'm sure this is a piece of art, but this feels like anxiety noise

Some truly great musical talent but too busy for my preference in jazz

I do enjoy jazz but this one was a bit off the rails at times for me. Impressive musicians but the compositions as a whole were ab it to crazy for my taste.

This falls into the experimental jazz category that I find too chaotic at times. Still brilliant jazz, just personally not my favorite.

Enjoyed it, amazing style and talent. But just not my preferred listening geenra.

I like Jazz, but this sort of grates on me. 2 stars

Wish I could listen on vinyl! Diverse

Lovely old school jazz to start the week. Beautiful in that you could not predict where it was going to land

Top 3 Songs: 1 - Track B- Duete Solo Dancers (2) 2 - Track C- Group Dancers (3) 3 - Track A- Solo Dancer (1)

3/5

Swaying and sharp, with lots of great trumpet playing. Maybe too experimental for me, although it’s hardly free jazz or something. Could use more devoted listening.

not the mingus album i would pick but i havent heard a lot of his stuff favs: c and f

Not my preferred genre of music, but it wasn’t bad. I would have to be in a very specific mood to listen to it again

Interesting jazz

The jazz albums included here never fail to awe and delight. What a spectacular soundscape. Amazing.

Van mij hoeft het niet, dit soort jazz in de lijst. Dit is toch vooral een boel getoeter. In z'n soort wellicht aardig gedaan, maar op een gegeven moment ben ik het wel zat. Ik heb vast wel eens beter gehoord dan dit.

Jazz volgens het vooroordeel: (schijnbaar!) zonder vooropgezet plan gewoon wat doen. Waardoor er soms een verrassende harmonie ontstaat, maar soms er juist geen enkele sprake is van harmonie. En dat laatste komt bij mij het hardste binnen. Versterkt door op sommige momenten een volstrekt willekeurig geluid.

Interessant album. Soort free improvisatie gigachaos jazz. Het doet uiteraard aan filmmuziek denken van een goede film noir, maar door de afwisseling vd muziek, ga je er gelijk allerlei scenes bij bedenken. De ene keer een spannende scene, vervolgens romantisch of zwoel (dat Spaanse gitaartje halverwege helpt ook), er wordt ergens een moord gepleegd, de detective van dienst is de femme fatale op het spoor, een auto achtervolging. De film schrijft zich terwijl je dit album luistert en dat is toch verrekte knap. Het zit stiekem ontzettend vernuftig in elkaar. Er zijn weinig albums waar je op die manier naar kan luisteren, die een soort van verhaal vertellen zonder woorden. Ik zou het niet elke dag opzetten, maar ik vond het een buitengewoon toffe ervaring. Binnen het genre is dit gewoon geniaal.

Great

Nice Jazz. Can be leastened again.

Enjoyable Jazz

This album is a masterpiece, it's all I ever want in a piece of music. It feels like there is a communing with a higher power on this record. It's universal and sacramental. Just an amazing composition. Mingus was and forever is the master.

5.0 + I picture a distinguished gentleman dressed in formal evening attire who's had a few too many and is stumbling around midtown Manhattan trying unsuccessfully to hail a cab so he can meet his ladyfriend for dinner and a show. He looks dashing but he can hardly walk, and he curses pointedly at passing cars that honk for him to get back on the sidewalk.

I’m still very new nee to jazz Discovering this genre is very wild and I appreciate most outings, but never felt like I truly “get it”. But this album is something else. It is creative, it is elegant, it can be fierce. But never without losing its momentum. These are very strong compositions on a very cohesive record. And I love the length, it flies by and makes me want to put it on again. 8 out of 10

Schon gehört Brauche noch bisschen ums zu apprechiaten Strong 7/10

I love how Mingus drifts between cacophonous and unsettling. Real good stuff. Has a southern/bayou vibe to it too.

High quality jazz right here folks.

Charlie Brown’s teacher was really laying it down.

After 6 5-star albums in a row I suppose I had to get some jazz. Not as bad as Ornette Coleman but it still has a lot of jarring sounds.

Probably my favorite jazz record?

A mess, a musical mess of tooting and blowing. Just not my thing at all.

Hard to find a fault, an electric listen. Easy to get lost in, make interpretations, or just appreciate some impressive musicianship. Breaking a rule as its probably not one I'm coming back to incredibly regularly, but for what it is, it's a 5-bagger. Fave track: Track A

His fingus make the stringus singus. I can't really claim to have an extensive knowledge of experimental jazz, but I do know this is one of the big ones. This record really pulls you in and engages you throughout. Full of jarring left-turns and enough little pockets of repeated melodies teased about that the songs seem both familiar and surprising for its duration. A distinctly entertaining listening experience. I'm a sucker for an extensive medley with multiple movements that take up an entire side of a disc so my favourite track for this record was 'Mode D - Trio and Group Dancers/ Mode E - Single Solos and Group Dance / Mode F - Group and Solo Dance'

Great album, always felt it sounded like a film score.

Sämst hittills👎

totally amazing

Bad!

This was really interesting. It never felt repetitive and still kept a continuity of style. I don't know what to think otherwise. I guess I like it, but we'll see if I ever come back to it.

I've never got into Mingus as much as some other jazz musicians, but this is definitely a great album nevertheless.

Nice live album. An intense listen at times. Rewards focused listening.

Not easy listening but interesting and enjoyable depending on your mood

Badaskaveebopbadabobajazz

Love me some jazz

Ya like jazz???

Yeeash.....this is dark, unsettling and to be honest difficult jazz. Its hard not to admire the ambition but that doesn't mean I love it. Its hard to penetrate (no tunes!) So will just give it a standard 3.

Urgh jazz

I don't really like jazz. But I really like this.

I'll be honest. I'm not someone who can tell the difference between good jazz. At least not yet. I had listened to a Miles Davis album a couple of years ago, and this album was kind of like that album. Not terrible to listen to, but not great to listen to either. I usually like my music to eventually settle into a groove, and this doesn't do that. So, average rating I guess.

4.5/5

Trumpet mutes and piano were dope. Best jazz album I've heard.

maybe it’s too generous but the sounds on here are j too cool

I love everything about this cover. I like the music. I don't remember it, but it was a good listen, no matter what.

Extraordinary. It feels like the spirit of Modernism remains alive and well in this collection, which by turns rages, celebrates, swings and broods. Notwithstanding the incredible musicianship, in some moments the sound conjured up puts one in mind of the immensity of an angry ocean. I think Becker and Fagen took cues from some of the horn work here for 'Royal Scam'. Love the Spanish guitar. Mingus was the Man.

I listened to this! But now I'm confusing it with the Thelonius Monk in my head. But I know I definitely preferred the Monk, so let's just hit that 3 star button.

playing this on repeat in my evil lair

Wonderful

My family asked me to turn this off. I concur.

Jazz; nice.

I'd appreciate it more in the right setting, say maybe in a late night cocktail bar. Tuesday morning getting ready for work was not my right setting for a first listen.

Wow, normally I'm nonplussed about the jazz ones but this was amazing. Discordant New Orleans style jazz that felt incredible in my headphones. Bits of flamenco creeping in here and there.

Not really my taste

This was painful. I admire those of you that can appreciate the sound of 29 (?) instruments all playing different songs at the same time but it’s a ‘No thanks’ from me.

Interesting, but a little too experimental for my tastes.

2023/03/03

Smooth

Great jazz tunes, I like it for working

Jazz. I feel like I'm not smart enough or good enough at music to "get" Jazz fully. I can admit that, so even though I don't necessarily like this album I feel obligated to give it 3 stars.

What an album ‘Side 2’ was amazing Would love to see this as a ballet, the way it was intended

An obviously brilliant record. Very challenging, but so enjoyable.

Pleasant listening. Top songs: none

Un poco de jazz molón para empezar la semana (LNB) El jazz siempre da buen rollito,y hoy lunes desde la cama mucho más (PSP) Muy muy marchoso (ONB)

Impressed with the composition of this album. The musicians play well and the albums theme is somewhat apparent, though ambiguous at times. Not really an album for me, but its not bad FAVORITE SONGS: - Track A - Solo Dancer 3/5

Stop! Look! And Listen, one of the greatest jazz records I've listened to so far. I haven't listened to many to be fair but this is a great one. Such a good listen. An interesting blend of smooth jazz and sudden bursts of excitement and uneasiness makes this one pretty unique and enjoyable. All tracks are great. Personal Enjoyment - 9 Songwriting - 10 Originality - 9 Production Value - 10 Artwork - 10 Overall - 9.5

Tja, dit deed me denken aan een David Lynch film soundtrack en daarom vond ik 't eigenlijk nog best te pruimen. Voorzichtig 2 sterren dan maar.

Nope, dit kan ik welgeteld 1 nummer aanhoren.

Op een goed moment denk ik dat ik dit best zou kunnen waarderen. Maar die momenten zijn schaars, ben ik bang. Heel schaars.

Leuk al die instrumenten die zo virtuoos bespeeld worden. Verder niet te doen.

I'm not sure I was in the right frame of mind to hear this - I think it needs a proper listen.

An actual masterpiece. I know it’s jazz, but it’s fun to listen to; if you have the time. It does seem more life one long song rather than four separate which is fine, and more common in jazz, but not to this extent. I don’t think there are enough jazz albums on this list and this addition is a great example of why there should be more. I wish I knew enough about jazz to justify the score I’m giving this album, but until then, I will keep listening and enjoying Mingus. 4/5

Beautiful haunting jazz compositions from one of the all-time greats

Me gustó lo dinámico y variado en cuando a sonidos y melodías es, además es súper compacto y se pasa sin darse cuenta

Jazz...

Yas! Jazz! Very cowboy bebop. not the greatest for listening at work.

This stressed me out, but it had more of an impact on me than jazz usually does so I’ve gotta give it credit.

Lazy, sexy jazz that blows hot and cold, like a love affair. Just when you’re certain, the rug is pulled from under your feet, upending you and calling into question everything you thought you knew.

Bold and dark, rich and engaging. The odd bits of instrumentation add to the interest. I can’t speak to how original this is – vs. how Ellingtonian (which it seems quite a bit to be, most similar to “Such Sweet Thunder”) – but one has always loved Mingus’ willingness to take risks, follow his muse, and challenge listeners. There's a sweetness lacking here, that would play nicely against the considerable dissonance. Dear editors: why not include records by Kamasi Washington as contemporary bookends to this? 3.7 > 4.

10/10 refreshingly unique take on jazz I don’t know much about Charles Mingus but I’ll definitely be looking into more of his stuff soon

Probably a classic album if jazz is your thing

If classical and jazz had a baby and that baby went up to college and got a really good job and then always came home for the holidays and bought you a nice house and, when you retired, it put you in one of those nice communities with palm trees and where the water is clean and they came over on Sunday to watch Looney Tunes.

Masterpiece 5*

5/5. Honestly an amazing jazz album. It feels so innovative and amazing. Although I may not play it all the time, it just feels so necessary and unique.

Too jazzy for me. There's too little structure and it feels too improvised for my liking.

On the line between free jazz freak outs and sweet grooves

Eh. Not really my jam 😬

god

Yes!

great soung, makes the heart beat faster

I listened to this and I just don’t get it, understanding jazz isn’t my forte and I’m working on a project and under pressure with a deadline so it was more of a passive listen than picking it apart, it was ok in the background not much made my ears perk up.

Like this came out same year as Freewheelin' Dylan's thing, and I am *way* more interested in the musical ambition of this. Late jazz in general goes to really interesting places!

Nope

I like the idea of free-style jazz more than actually listening to it. Sure the musician is phenomenal... but you have to be in the right mood to listen and you kind of need to concentrate on it as the music isn't the repetitious sound that you can just tune out and chill to. Appreciate it for what it is, but it's not high on my listening lists. I did really like the medley song though, that was groovy to listen to.

Brilliant album if you're into jazz.

Discazo.

Absolutely loved listening to this album. Gorgeous jazz music. I have added it to my Spotify rotation to return to when I’m in the mood. Stunning.

Simply not my kind of music, so guess I shouldn't review this album. Two stars might be unfair...

A difficult album. Took a few listens for me to warm to it. It's getting there but not quite there for me yet. 3 stars

I was blown away by the chaos and control of Mingus and his big band that is able to twist 50s pop music to his whim. It's eery and uncomfortable, yet glued together by reoccurring motifs, and there are often so few instruments at once you aren't constantly overwhelmed. The way the instrument fight and dance with each other, changing their tempo and tone to crazy levels, just pulls your attention without falling apart. So many highlights that there's never a moment to be bored by. Production is clear and crisp. Nice incorporation of the Latin guitar.

Certainly not anything like I’ve heard before. I wasn’t very convinced at the beginning but it grew on me. Obviously it’s very avant hard but very considered. The discordance flows very well at certain moments and at others is extremely jarring. Definitely an experience that somehow made my train journey less dull. Favourite: Track C - Group Dancers

This record is kind of wild. I didn't really like it the first playthrough until about halfway through Mode D, then something just clicked. I started it from the beginning immediately after the first playthrough and actively listened and was blown away at how much I had missed the first time through. Solid 4/5.

This ruled. 4.5/5

As much as I love jazz, I’m not great at reviewing/talking about it. this is great though! A-?

nice

There were tiny moment where I thought I heard something that resembled music as I understand it… it came close once or twice. But mostly this is just a wall of noises. An audio Jackson Pollock. Avoid.

Favorites - Track B and Track C (first half)

good

Smooth 4/5

Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: It’s not bad just not my thing Favourite song: didn’t have one

Solid 3.5, I don’t listen to a lot of jazz and this was a good introduction and easy to digest

It feels like I am a true crime movie from the 50s when I listen to this

One day my music taste will be refined enough that I can fully appreciate this. Today's not that day.

Chill (morning) Jazz

Pretty damn avant-garde, it feels like the music is going to explode into a million pieces at any minute

This was my first experience with Charles Mingus, and I’ve got to note that this is one of the most musically interesting Jazz albums I’ve ever heard. Mingus and Co. really are wonderful musicians. The starting moments on Track B are so sweet and delightful when flowing through from Track A. What genius. 4.75/5, but let’s round up, shall we?

Очень хороший джазз. Неожиданно энергичный и как будто стреляющий во все стороны каждым инструментом. Всё гармонично, красиво и трогательно до глубины души.

Leuke Jazz 3/5

Yo this jazz is HOT Big textures Bold horns Dark club sandwiched with Spanish guitar It works HOT

Preferred prior I think

There's jazz and there's Jazz with a capital J. The first is all about a feeling. It's about groove and swagger, rhythm and that magic thing that happens when a group of talented musicians are in the pocket together. This isn't that type of jazz. This is capital J Jazz. It's discordant and uncomfortable on purpose. The minute they hit a grove, they immediately shy away from it like a horse hitting an electric fence. Mingus is an exceptional musician but it seems as though he was actively working to make this album unenjoyable to the average listener. Capital J Jazz is so often a form of gatekeeping. It feels like hazing. "If you can't take the pain... if you're not willing to be humiliated... if you don't want it enough to commit the crime... well, you don't belong in the cool kids crowd." I'm not willing to put up with this nonsense so I guess I'm not cool. I can live with that. And I'll be happy to never have to listen to this again.

gorgeous. i could listen to jazz all day

Remek djelo konceptualnog jazza s jakim klasičarskim impulsom

On the album cover, there's a line that says "touch my beloved's thought while her world's affluence crumbles at my feet" and I don't know what that even means, but it is provocative! This is a skittish, almost frenzied at times, yet well paced album relying on full orchestral sets and simple instrumental solos. Only four tracks, I thought this one was good. Not the kind of jazz I strive to get into, though.

What can I say? I like jazz. This was rather enjoyable, which is about what I expected myself to think. It's perfect to just sit back, close your eyes, and listen to. My favourite songs were Track B - Duete Solo Dancers and Track C - Group Dancers.

Such a refined sense of not giving a damn about the status quo.

Wow this was pretty damn cool. I did not expect the man to throw in a flamenco guitar into a jazz medley, but he pulled it off very well. I still lack any understanding of jazz music - if you utter the word "polyrhythmic" in my house, I am calling the exorcist - but this was one of the few jazz albums where I just sat back and genuinely enjoyed the experience.

Of all of the jazz albums I’ve gotten, while this isn’t my favorite, I think this is the first one where I really began to appreciate the process of making jazz. This whole album was so rich and complex in all of its instrumentation and felt simultaneously highly choreographed and highly improvisational

Pretty serious jazz over here mumma mia

The starting track, Solo Dancer, is a powerful, moving song that that encapsulates chaos and disarray in the most brooding and plain scary way possible. This song sounds like the descent into the underworld, underneath a smooth, jazzy number. Track B, Duete Solo Dancers starts in the exact opposite way from Track A. Slow and soft, offering a chance to breathe. Before it slowly increases in tempo, coming back to the intense, unhinged feeling of the previous track. The tempo fluctuates, creating a confusing and overwhelming environment that encapsulates you. Track C, Group Dancers, is structured the same as Track B. Starting off with a slow, melodic piano solo before eventually descending into the chaos of the previous two tracks. Mode D/Mode E serve as a summary of the previous 3 tracks. They feature solos from almost every instrument, similar stanzas/motifs and composition to the previous tracks. Overall, this was a great album. Something I don't think I would have discovered, or given a chance before. But I'm glad I did. Favourite Track: Mode D/Mode E Medley Least favourite: None

What is this tim signature in the first song? the second and thrid track kind of blur but this 4th track is pretty cool.

This kind of jazz gives me the headache.

Amazing album. I love how dark and psychologically brooding it is. Definitely need to get the vinyl. Never mind I actually just bought it ope.

A nice album to have on in the background while working. It also gave me vibes of being in a smokey night club.

woooow 5

The words Collective improvisation and Free jazz fill me with horror and frustration simultaneously. I once had a friend who was in an improvisational jazz band. They used to play every week in a room above a pub. Out of loyalty, I used to go and support said friend. After the first week, I realised that if I did not have something to occupy my hands and brain I would go mad. So I gathered all my clothes that needed mending or buttons that needed sewing and I used to sit in the crowd repairing clothing. Otherwise I would’ve found being there unbearable. I feel like we’ve had overkill on the jazz lately but that’s because it doesn’t speak to me. Every time I think that I can be swayed to like the music and maybe get into a tune, it turns into a syncopated discordant mess. I understand that Mingus is a revered genius, and I may be an unsophisticated heathen but I just want to scream and bang my head against a wall. Another jazz-loving friend used to tell me that jazz opens the soul and encourages you to share your deepest, emotional experiences with others. I find alcohol does that just as well.

I like this but I’m not sure how much is genuine and how much is pretension.* Probably about 80/20. Things I thought of while listening to this album: The I Dream of Jeannie theme song, the Bewitched theme song, the show Mad Men, film noir, flamenco music and the movie The Talented Mr. Ripley. * to be clear, it is myself I am trying to impress. I’m trying to be cool enough for this music.

This is where jazz and I were not meant to be together. I hear it — the exceptional musicianship, the intricate and deliberate arrangement, the intentional dissonance and musical interplay. I imagine, as a player, what a rush it must be to contribute and commit to the music in the moment. In a live setting, this might even be thrilling. But I can't say I enjoyed listening to the album. I couldn't find a way in. I appreciated many moments, the flamenco guitar was a surprise guest, but on the whole, there were no threads for me to take hold of, I found the brass too brash and noisy, and the music too dense and disconnected overall. Rather than transported, I was becoming agitated. So, as they say in the breakup game, it's not you, it's me. I tried, but I couldn't relate.

Interesting choice for a Mingus album. I admire this music more than dig it, but parts of it are fantastic. It's a real mood-piece. Sounds like it could be the soundtrack for a sleazy noir flick. I own two other Mingus albums (Ah Um and Pithecanthropus Erectus), both of which I prefer to this one. Ah Um has shorter pieces and the longer ones on PE hang together more and are less abstract than the extended tunes on this one. If I want avant garde big band stuff, I prefer Sun Ra. I dug the guitar work on this one, though. Very cool.

Greazy, dark, tight, filthy jazz. Full disclosure here: I fucking hate jazz. I hate the tootling, self aggrandizing bullshit. but I. love. Charles Mingus. It's gutteral, dirty, almost scatalogical. Whereas jazz is so often cerebral, long winded, unstructured and lame - this feels rhythmic, deep, penetrative, and primeval. Brilliant

Not a super huge jazz fan, but it was beautiful nonetheless.

i don't have to say anything about this album. jesus christ what a masterpiece. i give a lot of albums 5s, because i fucking love music, but this is a 6. it's a 10. it's a 100. goddamn.

Not my kind of jazz

Not bad for a full jazz album, nice work.

I don't like jazz 5/10 boring

Didn't think this was all that bad. Really crazy arrangements all throughout but generally enjoyable. 7/10.

Cool little jazz album, instrumental, very chilled out, just what you would expect, wasnt blown away by it. 5.5/10

As art, I dig it. As chill jazz to put on while I do dishes, not so much. The dissonance in some of the tracks was unsettling - at one point, I think in the first track, I had a physical reaction to it. I was inadvertently squirming in my seat and fidgeting. It was unsettling and uncomfortable, but I'm guessing that's the point. This kind of jazz is like the Picasso of the jazz world - you can't quite wrap your head around it. Where are the lines? Where's the perspective? Why would you do that with instruments? So just like Picasso, total respect for the art and the statement. But it doesn't mean that I want it hanging over my couch...

I think that guy from La La Land would love this.

You need to be in a particular mindset to get into this immediately. Some passages are just too jagged. Of all the tracks, it was D and its extension to E and F that stood out.

Fun, freestyle-ey jazz. A bit more minor key than I'd listen to regularly

if you got the evil ending in Cuphead and thought "man I wish there was a whole album with that energy", boy do I have the album for you

Damn good jazz from one of the greatest musicians to ever live.

Very good, Different type of music I’m used listening too. Loved it

I thought I hated jazz, but apparently I just haven't been listening to the right jazz. This was genuinely a joy to listen to.

Happy to finally listen to the work of the man who gets a shoutout in the extended version of "Woke Up This Morning" (The theme song to The Sopranos). I was not disappointed.

Liked it! Great early sixties modern jazz and lots of sax!

Great record. I listen to jazz occasionally and I have always found Mingus' work to be top-tier.

I just don’t get jazz.

Jobbig start, men visade sig vara ett spännande album. En riktig resa! Jazzjazzjazz

Listened to this a while ago

If Miles Davis' early records are delicate shuffles of greatness, this record just pushes all that jazz to a very dirty and groovy place - raspy trumpets and saxophones, a little flamenco and a wild ride all throughout - with wonderful ups and downs - a true rollercoaster along the 4 medley tracks. Not a chill album for sure, more of a party thing going - loved it.

This isn't very good, I fear either subjectively* or objectively. Getting his psychiatrist to write an introductory essay muddies the critical waters sufficiently to distract from this basic understanding. It's a cacophony of undistllled discontent, but much more likely to disengage than to rope people into the cause. *You have listened to Pithecanthropus Erectus, right? So what the hell I'm I supposed to do with this?

os primeiros 5 segundos do album ja foram o suficiente pra me deixar perplexo e hipnotizado. eu amo jazz, é algo que eu não escuto muito justamente pra não ficar chato, porque causa em mim todo tipo de emoção. eu gosto da forma como tudo progride nesse album, e como não tem voz, parece um som do alem feito por algo que não existe de verdade.

This is great music for people who readily relate to emperors who love new clothes that only they can see. This was what my high school jazz band sounded like when they were warming up to play actual music. Save yourself 40 minutes by listening to the first 10 seconds and then shutting it off.

Dynamic Melodie’s and some instrumentation that actually sounds like people talking. A highlight of Mingus’ composing.

Excellent album. Felt like a conversation in music.

I don't understand jazz.

I really love compositions like this, where it feels like the entire set is an adventure or a story. On top of that, this is undoubtedly some pretty amazing jazz.

Groovy. Mingus gets weird without resorting to a lot of extended technique. Or any notable technique, really. The innovation is all in the melodies and arrangements, making an eminently approachable piece of avant-garde. With a great laconic ending note. The final movement(s) end up slightly samey, but that's the differentiating factor as well.

One of the best albums of all time

Never heard this before - amazing! Recorded in one day! Only 11 people - sounds like many more!

Ok

talented jazz musicians but too chaotic

Not really my thing but interesting enough 3/5

It’s ambient music so it’s supposed to be boring and uninteresting….. but it isn’t, some catchy loops.

I like jazz

Lots of groove, lots of chaotic jazz, thankful it was a short album because if it were any longer, the rating would just keep going down.

bien, jazzy, entretenido

Don't care much for jazz, but it was good jazz

Changed my life

Este disco me dio ansiedad

I'm glad this project is helping me to really expand my horizons... I'll be honest, I thought the first track was not great and really put me off... but later on it's very listenable and I had a good time with it. I'm still not a jazz man so I'm never going to rate this too highly, but maybe I appreciate it a little bit more now.

I have never been a great fan of Jazz, mostly I think because I consider music to be something to dance to as well as to listen to, and unless you are a practicioner of modern free dance, jazz really doesn't offer much scope for dancing. Having said that I quite enjoyed listening to this, which took me by suprise. Perhaps that is why Charles Mingus is so highly regarded. I only knew of him by reputation, so this was one of those moments when the concept behind 1001 worked for me.

Not a big jazz fan, something just doesn't catch me the same way that blues does but this was a great sound so I'm glad I listened to it

Tricky to listen to as a person who has not had much exposure to experimental jazz.

A unique four part look into some solid unique jazz. Mingus makes this album feel like it’s four different pieces of a puzzle as it’s put together. The different instruments and tempos make this album feel like you’re always hearing something new. I found myself enjoying it and for jazz music would return to it. 6.7/10

me re gustó!!! 8 / 10

A great classic!

So good, how have I not come across this album before now? I like jazz but don't listen to it regularly, electro wins out generally for me. Still have listened to Mingus before. Never heard Mingus like this though. Gorgeous. One for the repeat list, makes me wish I had it on vinyl (and a vinyl player, AND room for one!).

It’s fun, yeah. I think I’ll leave it at that. Interesting that it was composed as a ballet. Next?

You know that meme with the football coach removing his headphones while looking visibly repulsed? That was me towards the end of this record. Not to say it was bad but man did this take me on a journey! I would go from feeling like I took five espresso shots to feeling like I was the main character of a romantic film in two seconds. There are parts that sound GREAT, there are parts that sound messy and overwhelming. But what do I know? I'm a terrible judge of jazz

Not my kind of Jazz; fully understand that some might dig this though. For me it is too frantic

I knew the dame was trouble the minute she walked through my door. I could see the storm clouds gathering behind those far away eyes as her painted lips whispered their siren's song. "Please help me." Well, Benny and his mooks were bound to come around soon for the double sawbuck I owed him from the Palazzo fight, and I didn't have it. So I said "Sure. Take a seat and tell me your story."

Not really a huge jazz guy. But within the dozen-ish jazz albums I've listened to, this may be my favorite after Pharoah Sander's Karma.

Faites que ça cesse

vraiment le même 4 que pour John Coltrane🧚

I tried. I really tried.

Great samples , drums shimmer and boom through the mix , tight drum performance , and the brass section was dialed right in . Piano sit well in the mix with a hard standout performance. Group dancers and duet solo dancers were standout songs on the album. Overall for a big band jazz , I thoroughly enjoy this album. Last song on the album: 5:55 , drum samples go off , great swing , with exceptional keys performance.

Great jazz album.

Charles Mingus- The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady Genre: Jazz Score: Strong 8 Favorite Songs: Track A- Solo Dancer, Track B- Duete Solo Dancers, Track C- Group Dancers, Medley

This is not an easy listen and Mingus has much more accessible albums than this. Essentially it's a 40 minute long track made up of a number of movements within and you can hear a mix of styles as you make your way through from blues, Spanish classical guitar and straight up noir-ish jazz. Not just a story, but apparently a form of psychoanalysis for MIngus himself. Once again, this is not an easy listen - but it might just be worth sticking with. Best Tracks: Track B – Duet Solo Dancers [Hearts' Beat and Shades in Physical Embraces]; Track C – Group Dancers [(Soul Fusion) Freewoman and Oh, This Freedom's Slave Cries]

fomeque

Loved it

I like the part where it goes doot doot

Jazz is not my favorite. But I can recognize and appreciate the talent it took to make this album.

Pretty cool album, as jazz goes, this is pretty avant-garde. You need to listen with a different mindset to most albums on this list, since the interest comes through the instrumentation rather than vocals (which are completely absent)

Good, but not my bag

Listened to on 8/25/22 3.5/5 Favorite song: group dancers Good jazz album nothing spectacular

Too much goinng on

Not for me

Really great

Worth listening to, but my undiscerning hear has a hard time appreciating was is/isn't great jazz. Do enjoy as background music though. 2.5/5

so. much. jazz. kinda found the latin influence in it interesting

I appreciate jazz and free flowing jam sessions but this is just a train wreck.

Znači ovo je klasik. Ne slušam ga puno, ali gdjegod nabasam sa tim rejtinzima, ovaj album je tu.

What was that I just listened to?

Love Charles mingus

Beautifully chaotic. Went straight out and found another album of his to listen to.

I normally don't enjoy jazz bc of all the horn instrument honking and seemingly randomness, but this was not too bad.

Sounds like a steamy film noir soundtrack or something. I don’t know shit about jazz but didn’t particularly enjoy this.

Transcendent.

Jazz contemporáneo. A veces un poco disonante.

That last suite is incredible on here and is my favorite out of everything on here. It has a mix of chaos, cartoonish devilishness, and a knack for silence. That said, everything else feels like a lead-up to that grand statement of this record.

3.6⭐️

Ya like jazz?

Mode D - Trio em 2:00 tem uma guitarra espanhola ou banjo legal.

jazzao muito massa aham

Un classique. Comment combiner des arrangements hyper riches avec des trippes et un jeu super organique. On joue avec les dynamiques, les tempos et tout ce qui est possible. L’album ne sert pas à mettre en valeur la contrebasse, mais la musique. Superbe !

Mingus n'est pas le jazzman le plus accessible, mais sont style orchestral est reconnaissable. Mingus Ah Um reste mon préféré, mais cet album est important dans sa discographie.

Jazz

Wild and smooth, Mingus defines latter-day jazz for Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

Soulful and clangy, like jazz should be.

I didn't hate this album, but I couldn't really get into it, either. I guess it was okay as background music, but there was nothing memorable about it. I don't understand the appeal of jazz.

Mingus is one of the greatest bandleaders in jazz. This album is a multi part song cycle that borrows from jazz, classical, Latin, and African music. It is at times more accessible and more abstract at others. Structured loosely as a ballet, this album remineded me somewhat of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. This is one of those pieces of music that transcends genre and will stand as a work of genius.

Bit too swingy, has some crazy parts though

Wow! How to include just about every prior genre in one piece: classical, jazz, big band and blues. Chordant, discordant, soft then jarring it's a rollercoaster ride. It's difficult to judge. Should it even be here? There are some other instrumental, classical-led albums and electronic albums so I guess so.

Not my first choice when reaching for a jazz album. Swank, hectic and obtuse sounds but not terrible. Definitely not chill jazz.

Nice jazz music, no doubt about it, but in comparison to the true big albums of the genre this one feels like a group of very talented musicians sprayed their talent all over the place. The result is nice, yes, but lacking the cohesion of the true greats.

Nothing has soured me on jazz quite as much as actually listening to jazz.

Jazz it’s ok