Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #118154 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-06-14
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Import, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Running time: 58 minutes

Album Description
One of the least convential human testimonies ever filmed about a jazzman, featuring Charles McPherson, John Gilmore, Walter Bishop and Dannie Richmond. First time ever on DVD. B&W - hi-fi stereo. 58 min. All Regions/Pal NTSC. Rhapsody Films/Efor Films.

Customer Reviews

For the real Mingus fan
This DVD is an expanded version of a section of "Triumph of the Underdog". Basically, it is a documentary centering on Mingus' eviction from his appartment in Greenwich Village. I was dissapointed with it since it contains very little music and I had already watched "Triumph of the Underdog".

Only for the Mingus "completist"
I am a Mingus "completist" who has to see or hear everything by Mingus, and I have seen it, and don't recommend it. It was made in 1968. As noted above,it centers around Mingus' eviction from his apartment. As much as I think Mingus is one of the great geniuses of jazz, I cannot say he is an admirable personality in his private life. He rambles and mumbles his way through this film, and doesn't convince me he doesn't deserve to be evicted. There is one embarrasing segment where his very young daughter wanders through this mess of a apartment with Mingus carrying around a loaded rifle, and I feel sorry for her. The only tantalizing parts of this film are several short segments of a gig Mingus played with a group with an all-star lineup:John Gilmore, Lonnie Hillyer, Charles McPherson, Walter Bishop Jr. and , of course Dannie Richmond. The trouble is we never hear more than a minute or two of this band at a time. If only the DVD had consisted of this group playing the whole set, it would have been worthwhile.

Not bad!
This film is a trip for the true Mingus wanna-be. It is certainly not overly accessible, but please don't pass this by if you want to view Mr. Mingus in his own context. I loved every minute of this experience, especially chanting the poems along w/ the whole audience at the theatre I saw it in. For those who can't get enough of Mingus it's a treat.