Mingus Awareness
Project Concert
​at the Promontory

November 10th, 2015 (8 p.m.)

The Promontory
5311 South Lake Park Ave. West
Chicago, IL  60615

On November 10th, a group of musicians gathered at The Promontory to celebrate the life and music of Charles Mingus, and to benefit the Les Turner ALS Foundation. Mingus, an American genius 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. 

MAPtet:
Saalik Ziyad -- vocals
Jon Hey –- piano
Steve Berry -- trombone
Roger Carroll -- alto and tenor saxophones
Fred Jackson -- alto saxophone
Dan Godston -- cornet, flugelhorn
Tom Berg -- baritone saxophone, flute, clarinet
Alex Wing -- upright bass
Avreeayl Ra -- drums

The MAPtet will perform two sets of music, and the set list includes "Better Get Hit in Your Soul" (Mingus), "Fables of Faubus," "Haitian Fight Song," "Peggy's Blue Skylight," "Self-Portrait in Three Colors," "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat," "Jelly Roll," "Free Cell Block F, 'Tis Nazi USA," "Ecclusiastics," "Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am," "Isfahan" (Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn), "On the Spot" (Jaki Byard), "245" (Eric Dolphy), "Greenacrian Fight Song" (Roger Carroll) and "For Jaki Byard" (Alex Wing).

This Mingus Awareness Project concert was presented by the Borderbend Arts Collective, in partnership with the Les Turner ALS Foundation. More than a dozen Mingus Awareness Project concerts have happened since its inception in 2007 -- in the Chicago area (at the Velvet Lounge, Jazz Showcase, Promontory, Hideout, HotHouse, Martyrs’ and Fitzgerald’s) and Richmond, Virginia (at The Camel, Rhythm Hall, and Balliceaux).

This MAP concert had a raffle, and attendees had opportunities to win items donated from Sue Graham Mingus, Dusty Groove, NO BS! Brass Band, Reckless Records, Old Town School of Folk Music, Pheasant Run Resort, Philly G's, Johnny's Kitchen & Tap, and Edwardo's Natural Pizza. All proceeds benefited the Les Turner ALS Foundation.  

​Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease or motor neuron disease (MND), is a progressive disease that causes muscle weakness, difficulty speaking and swallowing and generally, complete paralysis. In most cases, while the body continues to deteriorate, the mind remains unaffected. The disease does not discriminate, striking any age, gender and race. In the US, someone is diagnosed every 90 minutes, and approximately 35,000 people are living with ALS at any given time. There is no known cure for ALS and once diagnosed, patients typically live only three to five years.