Mingus Dynasty at University of Buffalo
Nov
1
6:00 PM18:00

Mingus Dynasty at University of Buffalo

Slee Visiting Artist Series: Mingus Dynasty

University at Buffalo - Slee Hall - Lippes Concert Hall | Buffalo, NY

Mingus Dynasty

Mingus Dynasty exclusively performs the music of composer/bassist Charles Mingus, who taught at UB in 1971 and celebrated his centennial year in 2022.

The performance will be preceded by a 7:30 p.m. talk moderated by Jeff Miers and featuring Sabu Adeyola, a current UB faculty member and protégé of the late jazz master Charles Mingus.

A workshop will be open to the public on Saturday, November 2, from 9 to 11 a.m. in Lippes Concert Hall in Slee Hall.

View Event →
17th Annual Charles Mingus Festival! Feb 14-16, 2025
Feb
14
to Feb 16

17th Annual Charles Mingus Festival! Feb 14-16, 2025

Application and more info here! https://charlesmingus.org

Let My Children Hear Music (The Charles Mingus Institute) and Dr. Keller Coker of the School of Jazz & Contemporary Music at The New School are excited to announce the 17th Annual Charles Mingus Festival & High School Competition, founded in 2008 by NEA Jazz Master Sue Mingus.

The Competition/Festival weekend includes optional Friday and essential Saturday workshops and masterclasses at The New School, run by veteran Mingus repertory musicians and educators, a full day Sunday of Competition performances, special Mingus Big Band concerts, and numerous opportunities to immerse in the sights and sounds of New York City.

In addition, at least one $25,000 tuition scholarship to The New School will be awarded in the name of Charles Mingus, to a graduating senior participating in the Festival. Award will be based on Competition performance, and application and acceptance to The New School’s Jazz & Contemporary Music program.

Outstanding soloists from the Competition are invited to sit in on Sunday with Mingus Big Band, performing at Joe’s Pub Saturday and Sunday.

Can’t make it to New York City? You can still participate!

Each school receives Mingus music for study and expert feedback from Mingus musicians and educators. There is also a “Comment-Only” option available this year!

All events are open to the public, daytime events are FREE.

For the concerts at Joe’s Pub, all proceeds after expenses will be donated to Let My Children Hear Music (The Charles Mingus Institute) to support The Charles Mingus Festival and High School Competition and other educational projects.

We invite sponsorship to help subsidize student expenses and enhance their experience!

Donations may also be made here: https://www.paypal.me/mingusinstitute or contact us at 212-736-4749 info@charlesmingus.com

View Event →
WKCR Mingus Birthday Broadcast
Apr
22
12:00 AM00:00

WKCR Mingus Birthday Broadcast

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 9th, 2024

Satchel Peterson and Rachel Smith | Jazz Department Heads | jazz@wkcr.org Tanvi Krishnamurthy | Publicity Director | publicity@wkcr.org

WKCR-FM Proudly Presents:

Charles Mingus Birthday Broadcast April 22nd, 2024

WKCR is thrilled to announce a birthday broadcast in honor of bassist, composer, and cultural icon Charles Mingus, born April 22, 1922, in Nogales, AZ. The broadcast is scheduled for 24 hours on Monday, April 22.

One of the most fascinating artists of the 20th century, Charles Mingus was a prolific and skilled composer, a virtuosic bass player, an accomplished pianist, and a strong bandleader…He carried with him an aura of unpredictability, and communicated in a way that required the audience and listeners to decipher his unique lexicon, moving to his plane of understanding and navigating his terms of communication.

The result is a musical legacy that transcends mere notes on a page, weaving intricate tapestries of raw emotion and genius intellect. Mingus’s compositions are like a journey, and they force us to explore the depths of our own human experience through the process of trying to decipher what exactly he is trying to say (who else is capable of naming a song “The Shoes of the Fisherman's Wife Are Some Jive Ass Slippers”?). Whether or not one can actually get to the bottom of what Mingus’s true artistic vision was, it is clear that he had a unique understanding deeper than most people of himself, society, and how he wanted to express that in his compositions and playing. His music is a celebration of life's complexities, embracing the chaos and beauty of existence with equal fervor. In the realm of Black American Music, Mingus stands as a towering figure, and his music will undoubtedly serve as a beacon of innovation and inspiration for generations to come.

Stay tuned for a programming schedule which will be released in the coming weeks leading up to the broadcast. Listeners can tune in to the WKCR birthday broadcast of Charles Mingus on 89.9FM or stream it live on our website, wkcr.org. Follow WKCR on Instagram (@wkcr) and Twitter (@WKCRFM) for updates about the special broadcast and future events. Online listening is available 24/7 at wkcr.org via our web stream.

View Event →