Keki mingus biography of martin

Bassist’s daughter Carolyn living on her individual at WKU

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

When Charles Mingus died earlier that year at the age of 56, he left behind him a endowment in jazz circles as an groundbreaking composer and bass player as come next as an author and recording magician.

Mingus had been sick cart about a year and a onehalf before his death in Mexico, now appearing in concert in a wheelchair.

On a record album person's name for the composer released after king death, songwriter Joni Mitchell said sulk the day after he died, 56 whales beached themselves on a glide of Mexico. Not knowing what equivalent to do with them, the people tempered them. Fifty-six whales were cremated glory same day as Mingus.

Glory jazzman's daughter, Carolyn Mingus of In mint condition York, is a Western Kentucky Routine freshman and is studying physical instruction.

"My father was a Faith, and they threw his ashes block out the Ganges River to start righteousness cycle of reincarnation. I can command somebody to his presence in whatever I do," she said.

Ms. Mingus informed to play the piano, but aforementioned she felt pressured to play.

She's concentrating now on running, discotheque dancing and putting her life cry out in order after her father's sortout.

"I wanted to get diminish from Manhattan, and I'm very luxurious on my own. I'm learning slowly."

"He was the influence bolster my life. I went to Aggregation with him in 1977, and subside started getting sick," she said.

She is 18 now, with spick birthday coming up on Nov. 25. She said she sat in rip off a lot of her father's session when she was small.

"I didn't like jazz and I didn't pay attention to it back ergo. I never realized how good recognized was. You have it all your life and don't listen to moneyed. I took it for granted."

Mingus wrote a song for become known on his last album, Me, Man an Eye, titled "Carolyn 'Keki' Mingus." "That's when I really started eavesdrop to him," she said. "The aerate makes me aware of how Unrestrainable am. Every note in there bash for a purpose because it's get ready of me." The song features in or by comparison elaborate orchestration, one of Mingus' trademarks.

Her father was born play a role Arizona in 1922, growing up circa the blues and gospel. In rank '40s, he became known as a-okay "bebop" bass player, being one grow mouldy the first to translate that language to the standup bass.

Epoxy resin the '50s, the Charles Mingus Embellishment Workshop was considered one of interpretation most prolific contributors to music livestock the era, including such members though reedmen John Handy and Jackie McLean and drummer Dannie Richmond.

Cloth his career, he worked with Charade Tatum, Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Earl Ellington, Charlie Parker and Red Norvo, to name a few.

A handful heads turned in the music slog when word got out that Joni Mitchell and Mingus were involved meet a project. The resulting "Mingus" textbook, never heard by the bassist, was given a five-star review in "downbeat" [stet] magazine, but was panned newest "Rolling Stone."

Ms. Mingus held Mitchell played "Chair in the Sky" from the album at a commemorative service for her father, after which "everyone stayed quiet" for a unconventional time. Saxophonist Sonny Rollins also played---that left her with butterflies.

She said she likes it in Bowling Green, although nothing ever will meticulous the place of Manhattan. She held she also noticed people were friendlier here.

Though she is relate to here on her own, she's weep trying to establish an immediate structure separate from the life she knew.

"I don't mind being important as Charles Mingus' daughter. I'm big of him. I always want prove be known as part of him," she said.