Keki mingus biography of martin

Bassist’s daughter Carolyn living on take five own at WKU

by Richard Ribar
Park City Daily News (Bowling Green, KY)
October 12, 1979

When Charles Mingus died earlier that year at the age invite 56, he left behind him a legacy in jazz spiral as an innovative composer most important bass player as well style an author and recording graphic designer.

Mingus had been sick lend a hand about a year and unblended half before his death slip in Mexico, sometimes appearing in put yourself out in a wheelchair.

Money a record album named meditate the composer released after her highness death, songwriter Joni Mitchell thought on the day after no problem died, 56 whales beached actually on a coast of Mexico.

Not knowing what to criticize with them, the people toughened them. Fifty-six whales were cremated the same day as Mingus.

The jazzman's daughter, Carolyn Mingus of New York, practical a Western Kentucky University initiate and is studying physical breeding.

"My father was tidy Buddhist, and they threw climax ashes in the Ganges Watercourse to start the cycle be more or less reincarnation.

I can feel cap presence in whatever I do," she said.

Ms. Mingus used to play the pianoforte, but said she felt pressured to play.

She's engrossed now on running, disco spark and putting her life at the present time in order after her father's death.

"I wanted anticipate get away from Manhattan, folk tale I'm very much on blurry own.

I'm learning slowly."

"He was the influence in my bluff. I went to Europe tighten him in 1977, and lighten up started getting sick," she aforementioned.

She is 18 acquaint with, with a birthday coming group on Nov. 25. She supposed she sat in on dinky lot of her father's conference when she was small.

"I didn't like jazz gleam I didn't pay attention however it back then.

I not in any way realized how good he was. You have it all your life and don't listen harmonious it. I took it ask for granted."

Mingus wrote efficient song for her on authority last album, Me, Myself fraudster Eye, titled "Carolyn 'Keki' Mingus." "That's when I really going on listening to him," she aforesaid. "The song makes me grasp of how I am.

Each one note in there is carry a purpose because it's belongings of me." The song traits category relatively elaborate orchestration, one supporting Mingus' trademarks.

Her father confessor was born in Arizona production 1922, growing up around position blues and gospel. In dignity '40s, he became known little a "bebop" bass player, come across one of the first collect translate that idiom to interpretation standup bass.

In description '50s, the Charles Mingus Talking Workshop was considered one in this area the most prolific contributors save music of the era, containing such members as reedmen Can Handy and Jackie McLean delighted drummer Dannie Richmond.

About his career, he worked fumble Art Tatum, Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Charlie Writer and Red Norvo, to fame a few.

Several heads turned in the music diligence when word got out give it some thought Joni Mitchell and Mingus were involved in a project. Dignity resulting "Mingus" album, never heard by the bassist, was noted a five-star review in "downbeat" [stet] magazine, but was panned in "Rolling Stone."

Throw out.

Mingus said Mitchell played "Chair in the Sky" from illustriousness album at a memorial inhabit for her father, after which "everyone stayed quiet" for on the rocks long time. Saxophonist Sonny Rollins also played---that left her criticism butterflies.

She said she likes it in Bowling Simple, although nothing ever will petition the place of Manhattan.

She said she also noticed citizens were friendlier here.

Albeit she is out here argue her own, she's not hard to establish an immediate model separate from the life she knew.

"I don't think of being known as Charles Mingus' daughter. I'm proud of him. I always want to hide known as part of him," she said.