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**NerbuitW** · 07-27-2006, 08:00 AM

In my ordinarily useless opinion, Black Saint and the Sinner Lady is one of the top 3 masterpieces of 20th century music! (The other two occasionally change - that one never does).

I was shocked recently to discover a certain local big-band leader had never heard it. I started asking around and continued to be surprised by how little known the work is amongst our jazz players and fans. I also asked Hugh Fraser and was relieved that he knew it well and agreed with my opinion of it.

It never occurred to me that any performance of the piece would ever exist outside the original Mingus recording (Impulse IMPD-174). Seemed to me that the recording and amazing performances by all concerned was so definitive there’d be no point in anyone else playing it. Not a rational concept, I suppose. Last year I heard the excellent Mingus Big Band version on Tonight at Noon: Three of Four Shades of Love and apparently there’s also a live version by the band. Still, with all due awe and respect for Hugh Fraser, the idea of hearing it at the Cellar scares me some. But you can be sure I’ll be there!

07-27-2006, 08:00 AM	#7
NerbuitW Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 449 Senior Member	In my ordinarily useless opinion, Black Saint and the Sinner Lady is one of the top 3 masterpieces of 20th century music! (The other two occasionally change - that one never does). I was shocked recently to discover a certain local big-band leader had never heard it. I started asking around and continued to be surprised by how little known the work is amongst our jazz players and fans. I also asked Hugh Fraser and was relieved that he knew it well and agreed with my opinion of it. It never occurred to me that any performance of the piece would ever exist outside the original Mingus recording (Impulse IMPD-174). Seemed to me that the recording and amazing performances by all concerned was so definitive there’d be no point in anyone else playing it. Not a rational concept, I suppose. Last year I heard the excellent Mingus Big Band version on Tonight at Noon: Three of Four Shades of Love and apparently there’s also a live version by the band. Still, with all due awe and respect for Hugh Fraser, the idea of hearing it at the Cellar scares me some. But you can be sure I’ll be there!
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