Mingus Awareness Project

The Mingus Awareness Project concerts have been presented as benefits to raise funds for research into the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). These concerts celebrate the life and music of Charles Mingus, an American musician, jazz bassist, composer and pianist, whose death was ultimately caused by his affliction with ALS. The Mingus Awareness Project concerts have been sponsored by the Borderbend Arts Collective, in partnership with the Les Turner ALS Foundation.

Mingus Awareness Project concerts have been presented in Chicago, Illinois, at HotHouse (2007), the Velvet Lounge (2008), The Hideout (2009), The Jazz Showcase (2010), Martyrs' (2011) and Fitzgerald's (2012) as well as in Richmond, Virginia, at The Camel and Rhythm Hall (2007–2012).

The 10th Mingus Awareness Project concert was presented on Thursday, May 17, 2012 at Fitzgerald's Nightclub, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn, IL 60402.

The 11th Mingus Awareness Project concert was presented on Friday July 20, 2012 at The Camel, 1621 West Broad Street Richmond, VA 23220.

Concerts in Chicago, Illinois have included these individual musicians, performing under the name MAPtet:

• Tom Berg - baritone saxophone
• Stephen E. (Steve) Berry - trombone
• Cory Biggerstaff - upright bass
• Rebecca Cohn - trombone
• Jerry Coleman - drums
• Rich Corpolongo - saxophones
• Raphael Crawford - trombone
• Dan Godston - trumpet
• Jon Godston - soprano saxophone
• Ben Gray - drums
• Paul Hartsaw - tenor saxophone
• Jonathan (Jon) Hey - piano, composer, arranger
• Frederick (Fred) Jackson - alto saxophone
• Brian Jones - drums
• Dave Levit - sound engineering, recordist
• Bill MacKay - electric guitar
• Steve Maxwell Jr. - drums
• Nick Moran - baritone saxophone, flute, and bass clarinet
• Norman Palm - trombone
• Ed Roberson - poetry
• Damon Short - drums
• Joel Wanek - upright bass
• Alex Wing - upright bass, composer, arranger
• Saalik Ahmad Ziyad - vocals

Concerts in Richmond, Virginia, have included these groups: The Brian Jones Quartet, the Mingus Awareness Project Big Band, the No BS! Brass Band, The Angry Man Quintet, Glows in the Dark, Scott Clark 4tet, Hooten/Levin/Jones w/ JC Kuhl, and the Jon Hey Quartet.

Concerts in Richmond, Virginia have included these individual musicians:

• Taylor Barnett - trumpet, arranger
• Scott Burton - guitar, arranger
• Scott Clark - drums
• Stefan Demetriadis - tuba
• Dan Godston - trumpet
• Jonathan (Jon) Hey - piano, composer
• David Hood - alto saxophone, arranger
• Bryan Hooten - trombone, arranger
• John Hulley - trombone
• Brian Jones - drums
• Lance Koehler - drums
• JC Kuhl - tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
• Daniel Levin - cello
• John Lilley - saxophone
• Bob Miller - trumpet
• Randall Pharr - bass
• Trey Pollard - guitar
• Cameron Ralston - upright bass
• Jason Scott - alto saxophone
• Marcus Tenney - trumpet
• Dillard Watt - bass trombone

An additional associated concert presentation was Jon Hey presents "Better Get Hit In Your Soul" - The Music of Charles Mingus - at The Skokie Theatre, Skokie, IL on September 25th, 2011. The group was named The Míngtiāns for performances outside of the auspices of ALS benefit concerts.

The Míngtiāns:

• Stephen E. (Steve) Berry - trombone
• Jonathon Edwards - baritone saxophone
• Dan Godston - trumpet
• Jon Godston - soprano saxophone
• Paul Hartsaw - tenor saxophone
• Jon Hey - piano, composer, arranger
• Frederick (Fred) Jackson - alto saxophone
• Justin Kramer - drums
• Alex Wing - upright bass

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 (Git) Hit (It) 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 Pork Pie Hat"
• "Haitian Fight Song"
• "Jelly Roll"
• "Nostalgia in Times Square"
• "Orange Was The Color of Her Dress, Then Blue Silk"
• "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:

• "A Crush Mingles" by Jonathan Hey
• "Caravan" by Juan Tizol (Ellington Orchestra)
• "Charlies’ Arch Isle" by Jonathan Hey
• "Fire Waltz" by Mal Waldron
• "For Jaki Byard" by Alex Wing
• "From Bechet, Byas, and Fats" by Rahsaan Roland Kirk
• "Gazzelloni" by Eric Dolphy
• "Isfahan" (originally "Elf") by Billy Strayhorn
• "Petite Fleur Africaine" ("Fleurette Africaine" - "African Flower") 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
• "Warm Valley" by Duke Ellington

References

http://www.mingusawarenessproject.org/

http://www.borderbend.org/

http://www.lesturnerals.org/

http://www.alsmndalliance.org/famous_people.html

http://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/musculoskeletal/als3.htm

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20337463412

http://rvanews.com/features/mingus-awareness-project-return-to-richmond/33130

http://rvanews.com/etc/mingus-awareness-project-a-benefit-for-als-research/21430

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=24541

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%98%8E%E5%A4%A9

External links

• http://www.mingusawarenessproject.org Mingus Awareness Project official website

• http://mingusawarenessproject.bandcamp.com/album/mingus-awareness-project-concert-at-fitzgeralds

• http://mingusawarenessproject.bandcamp.com/album/mingus-awareness-project-concert-at-martyrs

• http://mingusawarenessproject.bandcamp.com/album/mingus-awareness-project-concert-at-the-jazz-showcase