In this new world of electronic gadgets and loud music we often forget what got us to where we are now, and all of the forgotten, stories that the youth of today do not tend to recognize as important.
And, while these new instruments and gadgets are readily available aspiring artists everywhere must keep the roots of their art form in mind when creating, so that these immensely important artists and their songs are not lost to the ages.
One of the most important artists of this period in time, which is slowly being replaced wholly in the minds of the youth with an attitude that forward progress is the only progress, is Charles Mingus.
He played a unique style of improvisational jazz based around free form expression. This experimental form helped to bring about new attitudes in the field of the music that were previously thought of as taboo.
He said in an interview with Neshuhi from 1963 that, “When I am puttin it down, I’m puttin myself down.” This was his reply when asked about his relationship with his music.
Through his musical career he completed many different works and played with an uncountable number of musicians; his diverse musical skills and compositional styles should make him an influence on anyone and everyone that aspires to be anything in music.
Let us not forget the past, but move forward with it in mind.