Charles Mingus – Epitaph (1989/Eagle DVD)
Picture: C Sound: C+ Extras: C Concert: B+
Years ago
when the 1926 silent Fritz Lang classic film Metropolis was restored, I was explaining how the film was restored
including the score intended for the film that had been cut so many times that
its reconstruction was amazing. I was
then asked how those restoring the film knew where the music was supposed to
go. When I said they followed the
written music on paper with notes, the look of shock was amusing indeed. With downloads, lame MP3s and sampling, it
can be easy for some to forget music is usually written down.
Long
after his death, Charles Mingus left a great legacy of music and in what
remains the longest piece of Jazz music ever written to date (running over two
hours), his work Epitaph was complete enough that it has a 1989 premier at New
York City’s Lincoln Center on 6/3/89 and it was recorded. Reconstructed from his extensive notes, Charles Mingus - Epitaph runs 131
minutes and is now on DVD from Eagle Vision.
At first,
I wondered if the concert and the work could work. There have always been extended jams and
works in music. Think Rock solos, Jazz
solos, Progressive Rock albums where one song took an entire 33 1/3 vinyl
record. Well, I watched and it was
interesting at first, then as it goes on, it becomes better and better until
you realize how deeply thought out this amazing piece of work he never saw
realized is. A true tour de force, some
of the best musicians in the business (including Wynton Marsalis, conductor Günther
Schuller and members of Blood, Sweat & Tears among the 30 together here in
exceptional form) bring this work to life.
It is so brilliant and lively, they have more to meet than I ever
expected. I could imagine how
interesting practice must have been.
This is a
must-see event for anyone serious about music!
The 1.33
X 1 image was shot on analog NTSC videotape and this looks like it is a
generation down, but it is here and complete.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 sound is weak stereo and also seems down a
generation. Where is the soundmaster to
this concert? The DVD itself has no
extras, but the case has a fine color booklet with an essay and list of the
songs and all the musicians who participated.
- Nicholas Sheffo
