Charles Mingus - The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady (Import, Gatefold) (LP)

Like his idol Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus wrote ambitious, complex works using the jazz ensemble with the exactitude and tonal sensitivity of a classical composer, while keeping the rhythmic vibrancy and improvisational heart of jazz beating fiercely. THE BLACK SAINT AND THE SINNER LADY is the apotheosis of Mingus's vision as a composer, and stands so far beyond the mainstream jazz of the day--in scope and execution--that it deserves its own category. A six-part self-described ballet, the album is packed with themes, motifs, and a polyphony of instrumental voices that weave an expressionistic narrative of intricacy, force, and elegance. The story of the album is undoubtedly one of struggle; the allegory suggested by the two figures of the title seems to include Mingus's personal demons as well as universal themes of love and identity. There are great shifts in feeling as the 11-piece group enacts tonal contrasts, rhythmic change-ups (often signaled by a lone flamenco guitar), and al