There’s some albums that are essential, not only for the fans of that specific artist, but for everyone who loves music. Charles Mingus’ “The Clown” is one of these albums. You know from the beginning of the album that this is a unique record. An album that will change your life and way to listen to music.

Starting with the explosive, hot and frenetic “Haitian Fight Song”, that introduces the great talent of Charles Mingus from the first minute of the track, the song takes you from the addicting main theme going through the solos parts with Knepper and Mingus, into the climax return to the theme slowing down until the end. This would become one of the most known and loved pieces of Mingus. Right after this explosive feeling that the opening track brings you, you got the weakest piece of the album, not that this is a bad thing, consider “Blue Cee” as a transition, a great enjoyable jazz track that will take you to something bigger, something that you will never forget.

The something I’m talking about, it’s the last two songs of the album, “Reicarnation Of A Lovebird” and “The Clown”. The first one is a tribute to Charlie “The Bird” Parker, with some quotes of his songs, a “having fun” moment of the band and then the medium-up swing with a change of rhythm that will caught you off-guard. Actually this is one of the most beautiful moments of the album, it’s that part of the album that makes you repeat the track just to listen the break of rhythm into a eternal ballad that really pays tribute to the genius that inspired this song.

Then comes the title-track. With a improvised narration of Jean Shepherd, this track will make you see clearly exactly how the history happens, with a circus-like atmosphere created by the Mingus band. The history of a clown that makes everything to satisfy the crowd is relatable to a lot of things. Is he talking about how the artist needs to adjust himself to the people so he can get the recognition he wants? Or Is the clown just a victim of the cruelty of human race? Only the listener can tell. Because, a definition of classic isn’t complete without leaving something to think about and with a taste of “I want to appreciate every piece of this masterpiece”. A real essential album.

by Arthur