Sy Johnson and the Journey of a Jazz Arrangement – Chapter 4, "Work Song" – Mingus Big Band

Mingus arranger Sy Johnson provides an in-depth look at the process of crafting an arrangement for Mingus Big Band. This video is an excerpt from Johnson's masterclass at the 2021 Charles Mingus Festival, detailing the writing process behind four of his newest arrangements. This segment focuses on "Work Song (Break The Chains)" from the GRAMMY-nominated album The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions, Vol. 1, produced by Jazz Workshop, Inc. Johnson describes the growth of this tune, from its inception in the 1950s with Charles Mingus' Jazz Workshop groups, to the initial big band arrangement, and furthermore into a new collaborative piece titled "Break The Chains" with the composer's son, Eric Mingus. This video features a rare chance to hear the track both with and without the vocal part.

🎶 Listen to The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions, Vol. 1, https://mingusbigband.bandcamp.com/al...

00:00 Introduction, history of the song, referencing the original recording and incorporating its elements, setting the mood
01:20 Audio preview, beginning to measure 33 without vocal
03:24 Introducing Eric Mingus' transformative vocal, resulting in new piece "Break The Chains"
04:22 Audio preview, beginning to measure 33 with vocal
06:25 Breaking down the arrangement, contributions of a strong rhythm section (bassist Mike Richmond, drummer Tommy Campbell)
07:45 Introducing the canon
08:34 Adding more layers and textures, building to solo section
11:07 Audio preview of shout chorus and ending
13:51 Utilizing subtle variations to shape arrangements
15:13 Thanks and acknowledgments, John Howard artwork

Sy Johnson (April 15, 1930 – July 26, 2022) was an arranger, composer, pianist, singer, educator, and photographer who worked with such legendary artists as Lee Konitz, Quincy Jones, Joe Williams, Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, and Elvis Costello. Johnson is most widely-known for his close association with bassist and composer Charles Mingus during the 1970s, beginning with the album Let My Children Hear Music. After Mingus' death, Johnson continued as one of the chief arrangers for the Mingus repertory ensembles directed by Sue Mingus, beginning with Mingus Dynasty in 1979, Mingus Big Band in 1988, and Mingus Orchestra in 1999. Johnson also helped produce a "Simply Mingus" series of arrangements with Sue Mingus and the Hal Leonard Corporation, aiming to make Mingus' music more accessible for developing young musicians. In January 2020, Mingus Big Band recorded 22 new arrangements of Mingus compositions, including 10 by Johnson. The music has now been released as a series of albums titled The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions, the first volume of which was nominated for a GRAMMY. Johnson is also the author of a photography book, titled "Jazz – Personal Encounters Photographed by Sy Johnson."

📚 Read "Jazz – Personal Encounters" here: https://www.blurb.com/b/5650078-jazz-...

Please visit http://CharlesMingus.com for more about Charles Mingus, his life, his music, and how Jazz Workshop, Inc., Let My Children Hear Music, and the Mingus repertory bands continue to honor the Mingus legacy.

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  / charlesmingus  
http://charlesmingus.com
https://candidrecords.shop.musictoday...


Cover photo: Gulnara Khamatova
Concept, interview, video editing: Theodore Davis