On Wednesday, May 7th, a group of musicians will gather at the Velvet Lounge (67 E. Cermak Road in Chicago) to celebrate the life and music of Charles Mingus, and to benefit the Les Turner ALS Foundation. Mingus, an American musical hero who died of ALS, is one of the greatest figures in jazz history. His bass playing, compositions and philosophy have transcended his genre and left indelible marks on music history.

                    MAP2 performers include:
                    Paul Hartsaw -- tenor saxophone
                    Nick Moran -- baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
                    Saalik Ziyad -- vocals
                    Jon Godston -- soprano saxophone
                    Raphael Crawford -- trombone
                    Dan Godston -- trumpet
                    Alex Wing -- upright bass
                    Steve Maxwell Jr. -- drums

     The evening’s program will include amazing Charles Mingus compositions such as “Goodbye Porkpie Hat,” “Better Get Hit in Your Soul,” and "Jelly Roll." Additionally, the musicians will perform songs by such notable artists as Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Eric Dolphy.

     The performance will begin at 8 p.m. Admission for this event is $12 ($8 for students). If you click on www.lesturnerals.org/communityevents.htm, you can purchase tickets in advance for $10, or make a donation for the event. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a raffle for the chance to win items donated by Sue Mingus at Jazz Workshop, Inc., WNUR, The Old Town School of Folk Music, Myopic Books, Dusty Groove, The Jazz Institute of Chicago, Reckless Records, Scoozi, Joe's Stone Crab, and more. All proceeds from the evening will be donated to the Les Turner ALS Foundation, located in Skokie, Ill.

     Established in 1977, the Les Turner ALS Foundation is recognized internationally and is the only independent, publicly supported non-profit organization in the Chicago area dedicated solely to the treatment and elimination of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The Foundation is affiliated with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine where it supports both clinical care and scientific research. The Les Turner ALS Foundation's services are available to all ALS patients and caregivers, regardless of where they receive their medical care. The Foundation’s comprehensive patient services include support group meetings, professional in-home consultation services, communications and durable medical equipment programs; respite care grants and many educational programs.

     We would like to thank Sue Mingus at Jazz Workshop, Inc., WNUR, Alpha Bruton, The Old Town School of Folk Music, Myopic Books, Dusty Groove, The Jazz Institute of Chicago, Reckless Records, Scoozi, and Joe's Stone Crab for donating items, for MAP2's raffle prizes and the silent auction. (Other donors TBA.)

     Mingus Awareness Project 2 is being organized by the Borderbend Arts Collective. For more information about MAP2, please call 312.543.7027 or email mingusawareness@sbcglobal.net. For more information about the Les Turner ALS Foundation, please call 847.679.3311, send an email to events@lesturnerals.org, or visit www.lesturnerals.org.