Infidel Bloggers' Alliance recently reminded me of a jazz standard I had forgotten: Charles Mingus' beautiful elegy in tribute to Lester Young entitled Good Bye Pork Pie Hat.

This tune touches me deeply.

Here is Mingus himself, leading an all-star group at Montreux in 1975. For those of you unfamiliar with him, Mingus is the one on bass.

Lester Young was a saxophonist who came to prominence in the Count Basie Band. Here is a brief bio intro. Here a bit longer one.

Charles Mingus, the brilliant, troubled and troubling, bassist was one of the great jazz composers.

Joni Mitchell was attracted to his work, and here is her performance of Goodbye Pork Pie Hat.