ERIC MINGUS
Um...Er...Uh (Some Records)
Reviewed by Holly Day

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Generally speaking, I am the wrong person to send spoken word disks to. I've sat through and listened to over a thousand poetry readings/spoken word events and records over the past couple of decades, and have hated most of them with only a few rare and brilliant exceptions. I have to say, though, that Eric Mingus is one of those exceptions, combining both a really good jazz band (including mix master Mocean Worker) as his background with his warm, lush speaking and singing voice with some really excellent poetry, excellent both in content, word choice and concept. He tackles racism and love and violence and peace equally with sincerity and honesty, without ever tipping into melodrama-something truly rare in this world of self-involved poets and wanna-be Rollins clones. It's really nice to finally get to hear some truly original material.

© 2001 - Holly Day