Charles Mingus & Langston Huhges break it down with, The Weary Blues

The great poet, author and playwrite, Langston Hughes said, "Jazz gives poetry a wider audience, and poetry gives Jazz a greater respectibility". Purists have argued that neither need any help. But, Jazz and poetry have consistently played an important role in the rich culture of African American life. A perfect pairing of these two art forms was realized in 1958 album, The Weary Blues,( Polygram) bringing together two iconic figures, Hughes and bassist Charles Mingus.  

The prose delivered by Hughes is right out of Harlem, and the music was composed by the iconic bassist, in collaboration with Leonard Feather and Horace Parlan. The album also included,  A Dream Deferred. The recording also features Shafi Hadi(Curtis Porter)-ts, Jimmy Kneepper- tr, Horace Parlan-p & leader, and Kenny Dennis-dr.


In 2010 I recorded a special program on the making of The Weary Blues while hosting the Evening Jazz Program at 90.7fm, wncu.org. I hope you had a chance to listen, but if not you can purchase this treasure on Amazon.com, or listen on YouTube.com.

Dr. King enlightens us on life, struggle, and Jazz at the 1964 Berlin Jazz Festival

Many people know that Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 in Oslo, Norway.  This historic event forever added to the civil rights leader's stature, and highlighted the Civil Rights movement in America to a largely European audience.

However, there was another speech Dr. King gave in Europe after leaving Oslo which I first become aware of upon a visit I made to West Berlin in 1986. That speech was given at the 1964 Berlin Jazz Festival where Dr. King had been invited to speak by Wily Brandt, the Mayor of West Berlin.

In the Berlin Jazz Festival speech, Dr. King talks about the struggles of Black Americans and how Jazz provided a voice for those suffering under the yoke of oppression.

The complete text of Dr. King's speech is provided here. take a few moments to read and reflect.