The Mingus Big Band in Concert
As a composer, bassist, and bandleader, Charles Mingus was one of the most original and innovative artists in jazz history. In the 1950s and '60s he recorded a string of albums forevermore regarded as classics, including Pithecanthropus Erectus, Mingus Ah Um, and The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, sometimes playing with a small group and sometimes leading his own big band.
The world of jazz mourned when Mingus passed away in 1979, but his widow, Sue Mingus, was determined to keep his music alive. Initially, this was accomplished via the Mingus Dynasty band. With Sue as artistic director, the band brought together former Mingus bandmates to play his music in a septet setting. But the next iteration of the idea proved to be the most popular.
In 1991, the Mingus Big Band began performing once a week at a literally underground club in Greenwich Village called Fez, bringing the burning, brassy glory of the man's full-force big-band arrangements to life once again. The band's residency at Fez became something of a downtown NYC institution, continuing through 2004.
Over time, the ensemble became a mix of original Mingus band members and newcomers. Through the years, the 14-piece band has included trumpeters Randy Brecker, Lew Soloff, and Ryan Kisor; trombonists Conrad Herwig, Dave Taylor, and Robin Eubanks; sax players Vincent Herring, Seamus Blake, and Scott Robinson; pianists David Kikoski, Orrin Evans, and Kenny Drew Jr.; bassists Boris Kozlov, Andy McKee, and Dwayne Burno; and drummers Donald Edwards, Victor Lewis, and Jeff "Tain" Watts, to name just a few.
From 2004 to 2008, the band took up residencies in various New York venues before settling in for a longtime weekly gig at The Jazz Standard. But the Mingus Big Band has always done an ample amount of international touring as well. With a discography that numbered 10 albums by the time of the Mingus Sings release in 2015, they also racked up a Grammy win and several more nominations. The Mingus Big Band, Mingus Dynasty, and the 10-piece Mingus Orchestra all share members and contribute to making the magic of Mingus a living thing to be experienced onstage in real time.
