Charles Mingus was one of the most distinguished and colorful personalities in jazz. He is a virtuoso of the bass who is credited with expanding the instrument's melodic function. When New Orleans jazz moved indoors, the bass replaced the tuba and helped hold down the rhythm of a musical piece. In a

Free/avant-garde, Hard bop/post-bop, Improvised, Moody, Primal, Sublime

Sometimes sublime and tender, sometimes raving and frightening, Janis Joplin's vocals had a raw energy unmatched by any white blues singer of her time. And Joplin lived as wildly as she sang. Although she was born into a comfortable, middle-class family in Port Arthur, Texas, she always seemed to be

Bombast, Classic rock, Gritty, Primal, Psychedelic music, Visceral

"Who you callin' a bitch?" demands Queen Latifah in her song, "U. N. I. T. Y." -- and she expects an answer with respect. This performer has been many things in her life: singer, hip-hop goddess, actress, feminist, impresario. Perhaps she's even been a bitch, but make no mistake -- all roles have bee

Feminist, In-your-face, Primal, Sensual

Biting, chewing, spitting, and blinking are only some of the bodily processes Janine Antoni employs to create her art. She sets her teeth to enormous blocks of chocolate and lard; she dips her hair in paint and mops the floor with it; she lades her eyelashes with eyeliner and patterns the canvas by b

Body art, Dreamy, Feminist, Primal, Severe, Visceral