Charles Mingus was known for his outspokenness about issues of equality, freedom, the Civil Rights movement, and his organizing actions to fight economic injustice and discrimination in the music world and beyond, such as retaining rights to his own music, creating Debut Records with Max Roach, and creating compositions and ensembles that demanded unique creative expression, authenticity, and integrity from his musicians. As we celebrate Juneteenth, the Mingus Big Band will highlight some of Mingus’ compositions with political and social activist roots, introduced by Jason Marshall and other musicians who will share their ideas about the songs and relevance to continuing struggles and hope.

The Mingus Big Band celebrates the music of composer/bassist Charles Mingus who celebrated his Centennial year in 2022.  Founded under the artistic direction of Sue Mingus in 1991 to build off the Mingus Dynasty septet that she formed after Mingus’ death in 1979, this 14-piece band features new arrangements of Mingus compositions in a larger band format that Mingus was not always able to organize in his lifetime. The dynamic structure encourages deep explorations and ever-evolving ideations of Mingus Music and provides a platform for individual artistic expression.

Drawing from a rotation of the best established and rising musicians, the Mingus Big Band is highly sought-after by festivals and prestigious venues around the world. The band has eleven recordings to its credit, six nominated for Grammys, and one win in 2011 with Live at Jazz Standard. A new album, The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions, was released in October 2022. The second volume will be released in 2023.

The band has held down a weekly residency in New York City for three decades, beginning in 1991 Thursday nights at Fez under Time Cafe, then Joe’s Pub, City Hall, Iridium, and landing finally at Jazz Standard.

Mingus Big Band manager Robert Ungaro stated, “We are thrilled to partner again with Seth Abramson for Mingus Mondays — we shared 15 years at Jazz Standard (and a Grammy!) And back in Mingus’ old Village stomping grounds with the wonderful team at Drom. In this Centennial year, Mingus’ music and message is more essential than ever, as we showcase the talents of the best veteran and young musicians, striving to promote racial, gender and generational diversity. We are keeping the music of Mingus alive.”

TRUMPETS

Tatum Greenblatt

Freddie Hendrix

Philip Harper

SAXOPHONES

David Lee Jones

Sarah Hanahan

Wayne Escoffery

Abraham Burton

Jason Marshall

TROMBONES
Joe Fiedler

Sara Jacovino

Becca Patterson

PIANO Helen Sung

BASS Boris Kozlov

DRUMS Donald Edwards