The Mingus Dynasty

Closing this year’s festival is the dynamic 7-piece Mingus Dynasty— the original Mingus legacy band created in 1979, just after the death of jazz legent, bassist and composer, Charles Mingus. The Mingus Dynasty was formed to bring the beauty of his compositions to audiences around the world. The original ensemble featured many musicians who were members of Mingus’ bands when he was alive. The group was named after the 1959 Charles Mingus album entitled Mingus Dynasty. 2009 marks the 50th anniversary of the release of that album, as well as two other landmark Mingus recordings— Mingus Ah Um and Blues & Roots. Besides the Mingus Dynasty there are two other Mingus renowned repertory groups— the Mingus Big Band and the Mingus Orchestra. All three groups tour extensively and are under the direction of Charles Mingus’ widow, Sue Mingus. One of the most important figures in twentieth century American music, Charles Mingus was a virtuoso bass player, accomplished pianist, bandleader and composer. An independent thinker and revolutionary figure in the music, Charles Mingus formed his own publishing and recording companies in the 1950’s in order to protect and document his growing repertoire of original music and also founded the “Jazz Workshop,” a group that enabled young composers to have their new works performed in concert and on recordings. At the forefront of the avant-garde, Mingus’ recordings bear witness to his extraordinarily creative body of work. The Mingus Dynasty features Seamus Blake, tenor saxophone; Craig Handy, alto saxophone & flute; Ku-umba Frank Lacy, trombone & vocals; Alex Sipiagin, trumpet; Orrin Evans, piano; Boris Kozlov, bass; and Donald Edwards, drums.

$40/$30/$25/$15. $5 discount Members & Students (No Member Passes)
Available in advance, by phone or in person, at the Outpost Performance Space (268-0044); Lensic Box Office 505-988-1234; 
or on the web at www.ticketssantafe.org