Emma Smith’s ‘dream ensemble’ completely captivated and inspired a packed Edinburgh Jazz Bar on Sunday night. Commissioned by EJBF, Smith gathered an outstanding group of musicians who spent two days in two rehearsal rooms exploring the writing and music of Charles Mingus.
Their task – to place Mingus’ work in a modern context. Collaborating in various formations (from duo to sextet), exploring eight themes identified in his words, and using fragments taken from Mingus tunes, they produced a programme that captured the essence of Mingus while firmly asserting their own ’take’ on the contemporary relevance of his work.
Take on Mingus was a daring celebration, hugely varied in form, style and pace and executed with a temerity, freedom, and raw energy that infected and exhilarated its audience. The connections between musicians and listeners were forged, through classical pieces played with an open and moving vulnerability, to the raucous pain and fury demanding to be heard in Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, through music that mimicked and mocked the ridiculous idiocy of Faubus to the persistent spirit of defiance and freedom celebrated in the Haitian Fight Song.
It was a connection strengthened by the inclusion of Mingus quotes and stories - the racism and sexism that continues to pervade and deny opportunities, the malice and ignorance of populist politicians, the personal and collective impact of loss, the sheer joy of collaboration, inclusion and unity. Take on Mingus was a wonderful testament to the enduring capacity of music to inform, reaffirm, comfort, amuse, heal, challenge, incite, inspire, liberate, unite and empower. It was never more relevant.
For further information and future dates for ‘Take on Mingus’ visit http://www.emmasmithbass.com/
Harpist Alina Bzhezhinska spoke movingly of how music helps to express her pain and anger over the atrocity being inflicted on her Ukranian homeland. Visit HERE to donate to her charity. Kay Collin
Canon; Moanin'; Oh Lord Don’t Let Them Drop That Atomic Bomb on Me; Goodbye Pork Pie Hat; Diane (Alice’s Wonderland); Fables of Faubus; Solo Dancer; Haitian Fight Song; Better Git it in Your Soul; Hora Decubitus (encore)
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