Mingus Awareness Project

The Mingus Awareness Project concerts have been presented as benefits to raise funds to aid research into the disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. These concerts celebrate the life and music of Charles Mingus and have been sponsored by the Borderbend Arts Collective, in partnership with the Les Turner ALS Foundation. The 9th Mingus Awareness Project Concert (since its inception in 2007) was held at a Chicago musical establishment called Martyrs' on Wednesday, June 15, 2011.

Mingus Awareness Project concerts have been presented in Chicago, Illinois at HotHouse (jazz club) (2007), The Velvet Lounge (2008), The Hideout (2009), The Jazz Showcase (2010) and Martyrs' (2011) as well as in Richmond, Virginia at the Camel and Rhythm Hall (2007–2010).

Charles Mingus, an American musician, jazz bassist, composer and pianist, died of ALS.

Concerts in Chicago, Illinois have included musicians:

• Tom Berg - baritone saxophone
• Steve Berry - trombone
• Cory Biggerstaff - upright bass
• Jerry Coleman - drums
• Rich Corpolongo - saxophones
• Raphael Crawford - trombone
• Jonathon Edwards - baritone saxophone
• Dan Godston - trumpet
• Jon Godston - soprano saxophone
• Ben Gray - drums
• Paul Hartsaw - tenor saxophone
• Jon Hey - piano, arranger, composer
• Fred Jackson - alto saxophone
• Brian Jones* - drums (from Richmond, VA)
• Justin Kramer - drums
• Bill MacKay - electric guitar
• Steve Maxwell Jr. - drums
• Nick Moran - baritone saxophone, flute, and bass clarinet
• Norman Palm - trombone
• Ed Roberson - poetry
• Joel Wanek - upright bass
• Alex Wing - upright bass
• Saalik Ziyad - vocals

Concerts in Richmond, Virginia have included musicians: The Brian Jones Quartet* and the Mingus Awareness Project Big Band

• Matt Hall - bass
• Brian Jones - drums
• Alan Parker - guitar
• Trey Pollard - guitar

At the Mingus Awareness Project concerts, Charles Mingus compositions have been performed along with music by musicians associated with Mingus such as Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Eric Dolphy and Rahsaan Roland Kirk.

Music performed includes these Mingus Compositions:

• “Better Get Hit in Your Soul”
• "Boogie Stop Shuffle"
• "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love"
• "East Coastin'"
• “Ecclusiastics”
• “E’s Flat, Ah’s Flat Too" (AKA "Hora Decubitus")
• “Fables of Faubus”
• “Goodbye Porkpie Hat”
• “Haitian Fight Song”
• "Jelly Roll"
• “Nostalgia in Times Square”
• “Peggy’s Blue Skylight"
• "Pithecanthropus Erectus"
• "Prayer for Passive Resistance"
• “Reincarnation of a Lovebird"
• "Sue's Changes"
• "Wham Bam, Thank You Ma'm"

and music by other composers/performers associated with Charles Mingus:

• "Caravan" by Juan Tizol (Ellington Orchestra)
• “Charlies’ Arch Isle" by Jon Hey
• "From Bechet, Byas, and Fats" by Rahsaan Roland Kirk
• “Gazzelloni” by Eric Dolphy
• “Isfahan” (originally "Elf") by Billy Strayhorn
• “Petite Fleur Africaine" by Duke Ellington
• “Portrait of Those Beautiful Ladies" by Rahsaan Roland Kirk
• "Rip, Rig, and Panic" by Rahsaan Roland Kirk
• “Serenade to a Cuckoo” by Rahsaan Roland Kirk
• “Stompin' Grounds” by Rahsaan Roland Kirk

References

External links

• www.mingusawarenessproject.org Mingus Awareness Project official website