Rabble Without A Cause
Wednesday May 18th, 2011 with Bernard Stepien
Charles Mingus - the Clown, 1957

Mingus album's The Clown featured something new: a narration in addition to music. Mingus explained: "The Clown" tells the story of a clown "who tried to please people like most jazz musicians do, but whom nobody liked until he was dead. My version of the story ended with his blowing his brains out with the people laughing and finally being pleased because they thought it was part of the act. I liked the way Jean changed the ending; leaves it more up to the listener." This probably was enough for some to criticize this album which prompted Mingus to narrow down his choice of tracks as he explained back then: "I selected these four over two others that were more intricate because some of those guys had been saying that I didn't swing. So I made some that did. This album also has the first blues I've made on record" Mingus that can not swing? Well, in the CD re-edition, the "controversial" tracks appear as bonus tracks. We will take them further under the magnifying glass. Today, this music still sounds free and especially refreshing.