Charles Mingus by Thomas Reichman

In 1968 filmmaker Thomas Reichman made a documentary which primarily consists of band footage and one to one interviews with Charles Mingus. What is revealed is an intimate portrait of one of America’s most prolific and original composers as well as arguably the genre’s greatest bass player. Throughout the documentary Mingus’ demeanour is steeped in bitterness and anger as he ranges through topics as diverse as race, sex, democracy. The film has moments of poignancy particularly at the end when a run in with the Police leaves Mingus being questionably arrested with an abrupt ending leaving the viewer to wonder as to how the situation was resolved. (via Shook.fm)