Festival Report: Day 1, NCPA International Jazz Festival, Mumbai

Was it an earthquake or a volcanic eruption? Why was the earth shaking under my feet for close to three hours? It was actually the Mingus Big Band playing at the NCPA Tata Theatre on Friday, November 25th to open the three-day NCPA International Jazz Festival.

Several years ago, in a conversation with a well-known, erudite American jazz critic I had asked him how jazz could be explained to a visitor from Mars. He didn’t think long before he said, “I’d play him the music of Mingus: it says it all.” I have often thought of that statement and wondered about the choice of Charles Mingus as representing the core of jazz music.

The answer to my curiosity hit me between the eyes when The Mingus Big Band, a group consisting of thirteen highly skilled musicians played the music of Charles Mingus to a packed house. In an auditorium where the acoustics were a perfect 10, the music just knocked me off my seat – and not just in parts: that music, that great message from Mingus all evening almost literally blew me away. The music compelled one to listen, drove out any thoughts from one’s mind and said, “Here I am. Now listen.” I could bet that even those in the audience who showed up out of curiosity or because someone had an extra ticket were drawn into the music, as indeed would be that fictional Martian!

Charles Mingus was a great bass player – with his size and dominant appearance on stage it would seem that the double bass was crafted especially for him. In my estimate, Mingus was an even greater composer, perhaps one of the very best in jazz history. Jazz musicians are said to be telling stories in their playing of individual solos; in the case of Mingus, he seems to have woven intricate stories into his compositions. Each time one of his pieces is played, another aspect of his story is unraveled. The Mingus Big Band, dedicated to playing his music, played it would seem, several volumes of his stories on Friday.

In my 50 years of listening to live jazz in Mumbai – and that includes hearing a battalion of jazz greats – I cannot remember another occasion that left a similar impact on me. I just wonder if the members of this band ever have the spirit of Mingus’ emotions course through their veins as they play his music. One needed to ask them…

Viva Mingus!

For the record, the band played “So long Eric”, Mingus’ tribute to his once alto saxophone player Eric Dolphy, “Fables of Faubus”, “Profile of Jackie” – for another band member, Jackie McLean and a few other Mingus compositions. Long, democratic solo spaces were given to the various saxophone, trumpet and trombone players.

The famous composition, “Goodbye Porkpie Hat”, Charles Mingus’ tribute to the tenor saxophone legend Lester Young and Tijuana Gift Shop, a Latin composition from his songbook were played towards the end of the evening, which concluded on a high note with the entire band returning for a rousing, swinging encore.

The long, extended pieces did ample justice to the expanse and style of the unique Charles Mingus. It was interesting to note that two of the musicians, both saxophone players were women, a welcome deviation from standard all-male band ensembles. Let’s have some more gender and racial integration in jazz.

Charles Mingus was considerably influenced by the philosophy of Vedanta, had read the works of Swami Vivekananda and had wished to be cremated and his ashes strewn into the Ganges at Rishikesh. This was done by his widow, Sue Mingus in 1979.

I just wonder how much the philosophy of India influenced the music and the compositions of Charles Mingus.

Sunil Sampat is a jazz critic and Contributing Editor of Rolling Stone India. Write to Sunil at jazzwala@gmail.com