Welcome to Litsy!

Today would have been the 100th birthday of Charles Mingus.He died at age 57 leaving an exceptional body of work , though my mind wonders what more he might have done. I‘m gonna absorb some of his music tomorrow, could listen to this every day! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J0FcKOfRgvE&vidve=5727&autoplay=1

Took me months to read. Probably because it was a shared project where I‘d read the book aloud to my partner (who has everything Mingus) whenever we had a minute. Cerebral, philosophical and perhaps NOT meant to be read aloud (the sex scenes are the most entertainingly lurid I‘ve ever come across in lit), it still didn‘t give me a satisfactory look into Mingus‘s early jazz-making. Oh well, it‘s his autobiography! He can write however he pleases.

The first half of the book is great, then it devolves into Iceberg Slim-style stories before wrapping up with a stay at Bellevue and some Mingus philosophy. If you're looking to learn about his music, pick up another book. If you're happy with a mostly entertaining read, yet dubious autobiography, by Mingus, Beneath the Underdog is worth your time.

I can relate, Mr. Mingus. #jazz #bookisholympics