Category: Jazz

"tonight at noon (mingus in tompkins square park / a free fugs concert -- 1960's)" by Steve Dalachinsky

8/18/2012

you said you weren't you
    that day
you stood behind me
   in the crowded
park
a big man with a camera
          around your neck
                hands nearly smothering it

i turned
   looked into your eyes
        & asked
"aren't you charles mingus"
               you turned your head slightly to the left
                       looked off into the distance
                            said very softly in that slightly husky voice
                                      "i'm not charles mingus today. i'm
a photographer."

                     i turned back toward the stage.
                     waited for the music to begin.

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The Mingus Project in Nogales, AZ -- Charles Mingus Hometown Music Festival & the New Charles Mingus Memorial Site

5/6/2012

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The Mingus Project in Nogales, AZ presents the annual Charles Mingus Hometown Music Festival, jazz education opportunities, and other initiatives. The Mingus Project is working with the City of Nogales to create the Charles Mingus Memorial Site, which will open in April 2013.

Pictured on the right --
* Signs for the Charles Mingus Memorial Site
* Sy Johnson (arranger who worked with Charles Mingus), photographed during the Charles Mingus Hometown Music Festival in April 2012.

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Adaptation of "The Weary Blues" (collaboration between Langston Hughes and Charles Mingus) presented by Washington Musica Viva

4/26/2012

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Washington Musica Viva presents an adaptation of "The Weary Blues," the 1958 collaboration between Langston Hughes and Charles Mingus. Poetry by Langston Hughes, original music by Charles Mingus and new music by Charles Gerard.

Holly Bass, reader; Pepe González, bass; John Kamman, guitar; Chris Royal, trumpet; Carl Banner, piano; Charley Gerard, alto saxophone; and Harold Summey, drums.

Performed in the Langston Room at Busboys and Poets in Washington DC on January 23, 2008.

The video below is the first of eight segments, which contains: contains:
1. "Hey!" (Gerard)
2. "The Weary Blues" (Gerard)
3. "Blues At Dawn" (Gerard)

Used with permission by Washington Musica Viva.

Click on one of the following titles to watch & hear more:

4. "Commercial Theatre" (Gerard)
5. "Ballad of the Fortune Teller" (Gerard)
6. "Too Blue" (Gerard)
7. "Six-Bit Blues" (Gerard, based on Junior Parker's "Mystery Train")
8. "Morning After" (Gerard)
9. "Could Be" (improvised)
10. "Bad Luck Card" (improvised)
11. "Bad Man" (Gerard)
12. "Life Is Fine" (Gerard)
13. "Hey! Hey!" (Gerard)
14. "Consider Me" (Mingus)
15. "Warning: Augmented" (no music)
16. "Motto" (Mingus)
17. "Dead In There" (Mingus. a.k.a. Weird Nightmare)
18. "Final Curve" (no music)
19. "Boogie 1 am" (improvised)
20. "Tell Me" (Chopin)
21. "Good Morning" (Mingus)

22. "Harlem" (improvised, Mingus)
23. "Same Is Blues" (improvised)
24. "Comments on a Curb" (Mingus)
25. "Democracy" (no music)
26. "Island" (Mingus. aka Double G Train)
27. "Fall In Line" (Gerard)

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Mingus Awareness Project Concert at Fitzgerald's

4/25/2012

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Mingus Awareness Project Concert
To Benefit the Les Turner ALS Foundation

Thursday, May 17, 2012 (8 p.m.)

Fitzgerald’s
6615 Roosevelt Road
Berwyn, IL 60402-1010
(708) 788-2118

ADMISSION: $20 / $15 for students

On May 17, a group of musicians will gather at Fitzgerald’s 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.

Nine Mingus Awareness Project concerts have happened in Chicago and Richmond, Virginia since 2007. Charles Mingus was born 90 years ago, and this year we are planning a special evening of music with this in mind.

MAPtet will perform music by Charles Mingus, Eric Dolphy and Duke Ellington, as well as original compositions by members of the MAPtet --

Jon Hey -- piano
Steve Berry -- trombone
Paul Hartsaw -- tenor saxophone
Dan Godston -- trumpet
Fred Jackson -- alto saxophone
Jon Godston -- soprano saxophone
Tom Berg -- baritone saxophone
Alex Wing -- upright bass
Damon Short -- drums
...plus Rebecca Cohn (trombone)
& other TBA special guests

The set list includes “Orange Was the Color of Her Dress, Then Blue Silk” (Charles Mingus), “Goodbye Porkpie Hat” (Mingus), “Hat and Beard” (Eric Dolphy), “Jelly Roll” (Mingus), “Better Get Hit In Your Soul” (Mingus), “Warm Valley” (Duke Ellington), “Fables of Faubus” (Mingus), “A Crush Mingles” (Jon Hey), “Haitian Fight Song” (Mingus), “Sue's Changes” (Mingus), “For Jaki Byard” (Alex Wing), “Jump Monk” (Mingus), “E's Flat, Ah's Flat Too” (Mingus), “Peggy's Blue Skylight” (Mingus), “Nostalgia in Times Square” (Mingus), and more.

This Mingus Awareness Project concert is presented by the Borderbend Arts Collective, in partnership with the Les Turner ALS Foundation. This will be the tenth Mingus Awareness Project concert since its inception in 2007. Mingus Awareness Project concerts have happened in Chicago (at the Velvet Lounge, Jazz Showcase, Hideout, Martyrs' and HotHouse) and Richmond, Virginia (at the Camel, Rhythm Hall and Gallery 5).

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.

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.

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.

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Charles
Mingus
at 90

The great jazz artist Charles Mingus would have been 90 this year. Throughout 2012 the Borderbend Arts Collective is presenting programs that celebrate Mingus' life and work. Charles Mingus at 90 is a multidisciplinary celebration -- with music, visual art, writing, and other art forms. Borderbend has opened a call for contributions; click here to find out more.

Click here to read the Charles Mingus at 90 table of contents (so far).

Contributors

Washington Musica Viva

"tonight at noon (mingus in tompkins square park / a free fugs concert -- 1960's)" by Steve Dalachinsky

The Mingus Project in Nogales, AZ -- Charles Mingus Hometown Music Festival & the New Charles Mingus Memorial Site

Adaptation of "The Weary Blues" (collaboration between Langston Hughes and Charles Mingus) presented by Washington Musica Viva

Mingus Awareness Project Concert at Fitzgerald's

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