These two portraits, though both of the cinema verite school, are very different. Mingus is about one of the greatest bass players/composers that ever lived-and a continuing inspiration to today's musicians (recall Joni Mitchell's double LP Mingus.) Charles Mingus is shown playing in the night club, but the majority of the film is devoted to Mingus walking around a loft-where he intends to start a music school for children awaiting police eviction. The results are mixed at best: some flashes of insight into the black experience and music in general, tend to get lost in the overwhelming banality of asking the filmmaker if he wants more wine or merely stupid actions, such as firing a rifle into the ceiling for no reason, except that "this is on film, right?" A better edited sampling of Mingus' remarks would have made for a much better film; as it is the viewer cannot connect with the material (although the ending, when Mingus is taken away by the police is powerful and dignified.) Recommended only for libraries with large music collections-for the documentary musical content. More accessible is Percy Mayfield: Poet Laureate of the Blues, an interview-singing session with one of the great blues composers of this century. Mayfield, whose songs have been performed by Ray Charles, B. B. King, and a host of others (his early hit "Please Send Me Someone to Love" has been recorded by over 40 artists), discusses his entry into music and his nearly fatal car accident in 1952, which left a good-sized dent in his forehead ("Now I know I'm a star. Ain't nobody in show business looks like me.") Together with pianist Mark Naftalia, Mayfield performs bits and pieces of a number of his hits, including "Loose Lips" and "Hit the Road, Jack," the latter sung quite informally, as Mayfield mixes a drink at the kitchen sink. Recommended. (See DAVID, MOFFETTE, & ORNETTEfor availability.)
Mingus (Charlie Mingus) 1968; Percy Mayfield: Poet Laureate Of The Blues
(1968) 58 m. B & W. $39.95 Rhapsody Films. Public performance rights included. Vol. 3, Issue 9
Mingus (Charlie Mingus) 1968; Percy Mayfield: Poet Laureate Of The Blues
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