Category: Jazz

Tonight at Noon: Celebrating Charles Mingus' Life & Legacy at the Logan Center for the Arts

3/17/2014

You're invited to come to this special performance event -- when we celebrate the life and legacy of Charles Mingus with music, poetry & visual art!

Friday, April 4 (8 p.m.)

Logan Center for the Arts
Performance Penthouse 901 (9th floor)
915 E. 60th St.
Chicago, IL 60637
phone: (773) 702-2787

$7 suggested donation

The great bassist and composer Charles Mingus was born 92 years ago, and we present this unique program of music and poetry in celebration of that great American genius' work & legacy. This program includes music composed by Mingus, songs by composers who worked with Mingus or were inspired by Mingus, poetry inspired by Mingus, and visual art inspired by Mingus!

Above: Mingus Awareness Project painting by Alpha Bruton, "After Better Get Hit in Your Soul" by Deborah Meadows, and Mingus Awareness Project concert poster image by Josh Josue

poster image designed by Josh Josue

1st set:
David Boykin -- reeds

2nd set:
poetry inspired by Charles Mingus

3rd set:
performance by the Míngtiāns
Jon Hey -- piano
Paul Hartsaw -- tenor saxophone
Jon Griffith -- saxophones
Dan Godston -- trumpet
Jon Godston -- soprano saxophone
Alex Wing -- upright bass
Damon Short -- drums

More about "Tonight at Noon":

The set list will include "Jelly Roll," "Better Get Hit in Your Soul," "Ecclusiastics," "Peggy's Blue Skylight," "Nostalgia in Times Square," "Haitian Fight Song," and other songs.
"portrait" by Steven Schroeder, "Into This Time" (for Charles Mingus) by Jayne Cortez, "Context of Champions" by Andrew Choate and "tonight at noon (mingus in tompkins square park / a free fugs concert -- 1960's)" by Steve Dalachinsky will be performed during the second set.
Artworks by Alpha Bruton, Deborah Meadows, and Josh Josue will be projected during the event.

Our Next Arts Workshop: Jimmy Yancey & Albert Ammons

3/10/2014

You are invited to join us at our next Chicago Heroes & Arts Adventures workshop --

Monday, March 10 (6:00-7:15, 7:30-8:30 p.m.)

Mozart Park Fieldhouse
2036 N. Avers Ave.
Chicago, IL 60624

all ages, free & open to the public

Join us as we explore the music and lives of Jimmy Yancey and Albert Ammons -- two great Chicago boogie woogie pianists. We will learn about Yancey and Ammons' work and listen to several recordings of their music. Then we will create music and poetry inspired by those great boogie woogie pianists' work.

Location: Mozart Park is in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood. It's on the north side of Armitage Ave. -- several blocks east of Pulaski Rd., just south of Dickens and Shakespeare Streets. Our workshop series happens in the room to the left of fieldhouse lobby; some workshop sessions may happen outside in the park, weather permitting.

Transportation & parking: Mozart Park can be reached by public transportation (such as the #73 Armitage Ave. bus, and not far from the Logan Square and Western Ave. stations on the CTA's blue line. Mozart Park has a parking lot on Armitage, east of Avers.

Registering for Chicago Heroes & Arts Journeys: You can register for this workshop series at the Chicago Park District website.

Additional info: You can contact us by clicking here (if you have questions about this workshop or to RSVP). Click here to find out more about the Chicago Heroes & Arts Journeys workshop series.

Links:

Our Next Arts Workshop: Ed Roberson & Sun Ra

2/18/2014

You're invited to our next Chicago Heroes & Arts Adventures workshop --

Monday, February 24th (6:00-7:15, 7:30-8:30 p.m.)

Mozart Park Fieldhouse
2036 N. Avers Ave.
Chicago, IL 60624

all ages, free & open to the public

During this next workshop, we will focus on the work and legacies of Ed Roberson and Sun Ra. Ed Roberson is an amazing Chicago-based poet, and Sun Ra is a pioneering instrumentalist, composer and bandleader whose dynamic vision has exploded conceptions of music, space and identity. We are delighted that Ed will be joining us at the workshop.

After growing up in Birmingham, Sun Ra moved to Chicago where he developed key aspects of his musical approach, including his iconic Egyptology-suffused space persona. Sun Ra later lived in Montreal, New York City, and Philadelphia...but Chicago and Sun Ra have a special connection.

This workshop will include the following:

Ed Roberson will read a selection of his poetry.
We will discuss one or two of Ed's poems.
We will listen to several songs by Sun Ra and his Arkestra.
We will write poetry and create visual art inspired by Ed Roberson and Sun Ra.

Location: Mozart Park is on Armitage Avenue in Logan Square -- several blocks east of Pulaski Road, just south of Dickens and Shakespeare Streets.

Please contact us by clicking here -- if you have questions about this workshop and/or if you would like to RSVP. Thanks!

Links:

Remembering Fred Anderson

2/2/2014

The great tenor saxophonist Fred Anderson passed away in 2010 at the age of 81. He touched many people's lives with his remarkable playing and musical vision, and his Velvet Lounge is a one-of-a-kind music venue where thousands of great performances have happened over the years. One thing that I love about his music is his unique musicality; the interplay that one hears with the different people he worked with is something that completely unique. He was always curious, thoughtful, and soulful. His music and spirit live on!

Here are some remembrances that people have of Fred Anderson --

"I saw Fred play many times, interviewed him more than once, and had a number of pleasant conversations with him. He was always humble and cordial, with none of the ego that drives some artists. While I feel sad that he is gone, I am really glad he has been here. He really made a difference to his world and he did what he wanted to do right up to the end of his life. In a way, he was a lucky man, and Chicago was definitely lucky to have him." -- Bill Meyer, writer

* * * *

"As I began my creative music journey, Fred Anderson -- along with other members of the AACM -- allowed me the freedom to explore at the Velvet Lounge. Fred embraced me and my efforts and encouraged my creativity in a safe and loving space....for that I love him." -- Renée Baker, musician and composer

* * * *

"Fred's soul is inhabiting other spaces now, and those spaces now get to be blessed. Yuganaut played the Velvet last October while we were on tour, and Fred was there, holding court, loving us and encouraging us. Meeting him was an act of generosity unto itself, 'Can I help you load in? Need stands? Mics? Anything?' Incredible. I mean...the love is there in the playing, yes, but it just extended into every moment of his life -- the playing was just the MUSIC extension of the love that was Fred. Continue your journey, O great lov-er!" -- Stephen Rush, musician and composer

* * * *

"Thanks to Fred Anderson and the original Birdhouse on North Clark Street, I met him and heard Hal Russell for the very first time. This was in 1979, and my life was forever changed. Listening to Fred play a very inspiring duet with drummer Tim Daisy at the Okka Fest last summer in Milwaukee was a surreal moment. His performance was truly memorable." -- Steve Hunt, musician

"I will always remember Fred Anderson for a lot of reasons, but here are some memories that stand out to me. August 14th, 2007 was my first gig as a leader at the Velvet Lounge. I was nervous as hell. I was telling Fred about being nervous. He said, 'Man, just play the music -- everything will be all right, just play your music.' I'll never forget that. Fred always encouraged me to keep pushing on, and to play the music.

"Another story is when we went to Pisa, Italy for the Insolent Noise Jazz Festival. There was a night when almost everybody was out in the streets partying, and Fred and I were probably the only folks at the hotel. I always thought that was funny. I'm going to miss Fred so much, he was a great mentor who gave me my first chance to perform. He didn't care if we played standards or whatever. That was the kind of place the Velvet is, where Fred would welcome you with open arms. I lost my grandfather a couple years ago, and now I lost another. He will be in my heart forever." -- Saalik Ziyad, musician and composer

* * * *

"Fred Anderson did a show with his trio at Elastic in June 2006. There was a poster made for the event which depicted him towering over the building Elastic is in. We liked to joke that it looked like a Godzilla movie...something like: 'Fred Eats Elastic!'. It was so appropriate, because Fred was such a towering figure! Also, not many people know this, but we really solidified our decision to start Elastic during a DKV show at The Velvet Lounge. We always saw that as being a good omen for us, and it has been!" -- Sam Lewis, musician

* * * *

"While I was not a frequent visitor to the Velvet Lounge, I was aware of Fred Anderson and his compatriots (especially some of the AACM members whom I had a chance to play with most often in the 1980s). I heard Fred play several times but, alas, not often enough. I have a deep respect for Chicago's founding tradition of non-traditional jazz -- exploring, exposing, and extrapolating. Fred Anderson was one of those artists whose life and work taught purposeful meaning to many of my musical friends and to myself. -- Jon Hey, musician and composer

* * * *

"What I remember is that he was kind to me, and open-minded enough to be interested to play with me at Chicago Calling in 2008 at the Velvet. He didn't quite know what to do with what I was doing while we were playing. I think he might have thought of me as a crazy percussionist." -- Eric Glick Rieman, musician and composer

Fred Anderson-Inspired Arts Workshop at Mozart Park

2/1/2014

You are invited to come to our next Chicago Heroes & Arts Adventures workshop --

Monday, February 3rd (6:00-7:15, 7:30-8:30 p.m.)

Mozart Park Fieldhouse
2036 N. Avers Ave.
Chicago, IL 60624

all ages, free & open to the public

We continue our arts workshop series at Mozart Park with a session that focuses on the music and legacy of the great saxophonist Fred Anderson. We will talk about some highlights of Anderson's life and music, and then watch part of the music documentary Timeless: Live at the Velvet Lounge (Delmark, 2006). Then workshop participants will create collages that are inspired by Anderson's music.

Fred Anderson was an inspiration to generations of musicians -- through the music he created, as well as thanks to the legendary Velvet Lounge which he ran for several decades until he passed away in 2010.

This workshop is all ages, free and open the public. Arts supplies will be provided. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Fred Anderson Trio performing at the Abrons Art Center, during the 2009 Vision Festival. Fred Anderson (tenor saxophone), William Parker (upright bass, kora), Hamid Drake (frame drum). Photos by Peter Gannushkin, used with permission.

Interview with Damon Short

12/9/2013

Damon Short is an excellent Chicago-based drummer, bandleader and composer who has been active in the Chicago area for more than 20 years. Here is an interview with Damon.

Note: This is being revised, check back soon for an updated version...

How did you first get interested in the arts?

Damon Short: I've wanted to play drums for as long as I can remember. When I was around 4 I'd take some Tinkertoy sticks and bang on the empty can in a tile-lined bathroom. Aside from being banished there by my parents because of the noise, it had a great echo effect. There were a few classical records around the house and my older brother was into early jazz when he was pretty young himself, so it was always around.

What is an early memory you have of doing something in the arts?

Damon Short: I played a drum set solo in 6th grade at a school event. It'd be funny to hear that now, but they didn't have YouTube back then.

Who are some of your influences?

Damon Short: I was fortunate to discover the progression of jazz in pretty much chronological order - most people encounter it at one period or another - bebop, the 60s, fusion, 'free' (dumb term), etc. - and work their way in either/both directions if they work their way at all. So I was aware of Gene Krupa & Jo Jones before I 'discovered' Max Roach, for example. So all of it informs what I do with my own music. Seeing Elvin Jones in person changed my entire approach to drumming; seeing Cecil Taylor changed my approach to music in general. As a composer... most of my pieces tend to reflect Mingus probably, but I'm certainly 'influenced' by Ellington, Braxton, Shorter, Gil Evans (who's truly a composer even if he's considered an 'arranger'), Harry Partch, Messiaen, Boulez, Bartok, Stravinsky, sometimes even Mahler.

photo credit: Kathy Short

What other projects have you been working on?

Damon Short: I've been doing a trio with trombonist Michael Vlatkovich (LA) and Jonathan Golove (cello). Vlat is a prolific composer and monster player; Jonathan is a terrific 'classical' player and composer in his own right, and a very creative improviser, which is a rare combination. The 'Tryyo' is playing Michael's music but there's plenty of room for each of us to transform the written material. I've also been playing in different groups directed by Paul Hartsaw (when he's not playing in my Quintet). Paul has great ideas and is also a formidable player. I enjoy all of these situations where I can be 'just the drummer'.

Mingus Awareness Project Concert at Martyrs'

11/10/2013

Mingus Awareness Project Concert
to benefit the Les Turner ALS Foundation

ADMISSION: $20 / $15 for students

On December 16, a group of musicians will gather at Martyrs’ to celebrate the life and music of Charles Mingus, and to benefit the Les Turner ALS Foundation. Mingus, an American musical hero who died of ALS, is one of the greatest figures in jazz history. His bass playing, compositions and philosophy have transcended his genre and left indelible marks on music history.

Attendees will have opportunities to participate in a raffle during the event. Donations can be made to the Les Turner ALS Foundation via the Mingus Awareness Project link. Your donations are greatly appreciated. All proceeds will go to benefit the Les Turner ALS Foundation.

This Mingus Awareness Project concert is presented by the Borderbend Arts Collective, in partnership with the Les Turner ALS Foundation. This will be the twelfth Mingus Awareness Project concert since its inception in 2007. Mingus Awareness Project concerts have happened in Chicago (at the Velvet Lounge, Jazz Showcase, Hideout, HotHouse, and Fitzgeralds) and Richmond, Virginia (at the Camel, Rhythm Hall, and Balliceaux).

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or motor neuron disease (MND), causes motor neurons to stop working and die. The result is loss of voluntary movement and muscle functions such as speaking, swallowing, and breathing. ALS occurs regardless of race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status. ALS is most common between 40 and 70 years of age, although it can strike at any age. In the US, someone is diagnosed every 90 minutes, and 35,000 people are living with ALS. Average lifespan is three to five years from diagnosis. Approximately 10% of all cases are inherited forms, and a faulty protein pathway is known to play a role in all types of ALS. Though treatment of symptoms often improves quality of life, there is no cure for ALS.

MAP concert poster images
designed by Josh Josue

About the Les Turner ALS Foundation
Since 1977, the Les Turner ALS Foundation has been a leader in research, patient care, and education about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), better known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and other motor neuron diseases (MND). The Foundation serves more than 90% of the ALS population in the Chicago area. The Foundation is also one of the nation's largest independent ALS organizations and has raised nearly $45 million to fight Lou Gehrig's disease. In addition, through wide-ranging research and symposiums for healthcare professionals, the Foundation reaches the ALS community worldwide. The Foundation is affiliated with Northwestern Medicine and is a founding member of the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations.

Check back soon for updates regarding the set list and other details!

You can RSVP via Facebook.

Mingus Awareness Project 2013

7/8/2013

Two Mingus Awareness Project concerts happen in Richmond, VA this month:

Sunday, July 21 (9 p.m.)
1st set: Jason Jenkins Quartet
2nd set: No BS! Brass Band

* * * *

Monday, July 22 (9 p.m.)
1st set: Brian Jones Guitar Quartet
2nd set: RVA Big Band

Balliceaux
203 N. Lombardy St.
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 355-3008

We're planning another Mingus Awareness Project concert in Chicago for the fall.

Congratulations to the No BS! Brass Band for the release of their new Fight Song: A Tribute to Charles Mingus CD. They've been promoting their new CD with a tour, and have been getting a lot of buzz -- with coverage in The Wall Street Journal, Paste Magazine, WBGO (88.3FM in Newark, NJ), and other media outlets. No BS! also released RVA All Day last month; check it out!

Check out the Borderbend media gallery for "Charles Mingus at 90," a year-long celebration of Charles Mingus' life and legacy that happened last year.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Charles Mingus at 90

2/4/2012

The jazz artist Charles Mingus (born on April 22, 1922) left behind an amazing legacy that includes a stellar catalog of compositions such as "Goodbye Porkpie Hat," "Better Get Hit in Your Soul," and "Fables of Faubus"; a career that included working with many musical greats such as Duke Ellington, Eric Dolphy, Dannie Richmond, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Max Roach, and Joni Mitchell; and approaches to the jazz idiom such as directions for big bands that have been indelibly etched into jazz vocabulary. *

Mingus would have been 90 this year, but sadly he died of ALS in 1979. Sue Graham Mingus, who met Charles in the early '60s, was married to him and took care of him throughout his illness. Tonight at Noon: A Love Story, Sue Mingus' eloquent memoir, contains many memorable anecdotes of her life with Mingus. Sue has been directing The Mingus Bands for more than 30 years, and also directs Mingus jazz education outreach in New York City.

The Borderbend Arts Collective has presented ten Charles Mingus-inspired concerts, including nine Mingus Awareness Project concerts in Chicago and Richmond, Virginia. Borderbend is planning special programming this year, in honor of Mingus' 90th birthday -- including the next Mingus Awareness Project concert which happens at Fitzgerald's on May 17th. More announcements will be made soon...

* Many excellent books about Mingus have been published. Check out Gene Santoro's Myself When I Am Real, Mingus' autobiography Beneath the Underdog, and Sue Mingus' Tonight at Noon.

pictured above: Mingus Awareness Project poster image designed by Josh Josue

Here are several recordings from Mingus Awareness Project concerts. Enjoy!

Here's an excerpt of Sue Graham Mingus reading from her memoir Tonight at Noon, during the Mingus Awareness Project concert at the Hideout in 2009 --