Mingus: Charles Mingus 1968 (dir. Thomas Reichman), released 50 years ago, documents when Mingus was evicted from his Greenwich Village apartment. It is a riveting documentary that captures a very difficult time in his life, including some poignant moments with his five-year-old daughter.

2017 marks the 60th anniversary of the crisis with Little Rock Central High School, most well-known as the situation during which the Little Rock Nine were brought to Little Rock Central H.S. -- and racist white people including Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus virulently opposed this action to desegregate the high school.

Charles Mingus wrote and recorded "Fables of Faubus," a sonic portrait of Governor Faubus.

Here's the MAPtet performing "Fables of Faubus" at Martyrs', with Saalik Ziyad singing the original vocals that Mingus penned in 1959.

Mingus Awareness Project concerts were hosted by The Camel (Richmond) and FitzGerald's (Berwyn, IL) earlier this year. Here're the details.

Chicago's unique venue The Promontory hosted a Mingus Awareness Project concert earlier this month. Here're the details.

Mingus Awareness Project concerts were hosted at The Camel (Richmond) and The Promontory (Chicago) earlier this year. Here're the details.

Congratulations to the NO BS! Brass Band, which released two excellent albums in 2013. One of those was RVA All Day, and the other was Fight Song: a tribute to Charles Mingus, which was featured in PASTE Magazine, The Wall Street Journal blog, and other publications. Check out NPR's Tiny Desk Concert with NO BS! Brass.

Mingus Awareness Project concerts happened at Balliceaux (Richmond) and Martyrs' (Chicago) earlier this year. Here're the details.

Check out "An Argument with Instruments: On Charles Mingus" -- Adam Shatz's review of John Goodman's recently published biography (The Nation).

Mingus Awareness Project concerts happened at FitGerald's (Berwyn, IL) and The Camel (Richmond) earlier this year. Here're the details.

The following individuals have performed
during Mingus Awareness Project concerts
in Richmond, VA and Chicago, IL --