Blog Posts - Mingus Awareness Project

Attica Uprising -- 50 Years Later

11/21/2021

The rebellion at Attica Prison happened in September 1971, resulting in 43 people dying (including 33 prisoners and ten prison staff). Mingus' composition "Remember Rockefeller at Attica" (on Changes One) is inspired by the Attica Uprising.

Stanley Nelson directed the documentary Attica, out on Showtime earlier this month -- capturing key moments in this tragic five-day event, and including reflections about how what happened resonates today. Also notable is the Pulitzer Prize-winning Blood in the Wate: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy by Heather Ann Thompson.

Steve Dalachinsky (1946-2019)

9/28/2019

The great NYC-based poet Steve Dalachinsky passed away earlier this month. His avant garde poetry involved many collaborations with jazz artists during his long career. Several years ago he contributed a poem to "Charles Mingus at 90"; here it is --

"tonight at noon (mingus in tompkins square park / a free fugs concert -- 1960's)"

you said you weren't you
    that day
you stood behind me
   in the crowded
park
a big man with a camera
          around your neck
                hands nearly smothering it

i turned
   looked into your eyes
        & asked
"aren't you charles mingus"
               you turned your head slightly to the left
                       looked off into the distance
                            said very softly in that slightly husky voice
                                      "i'm not charles mingus today. i'm
a photographer."

                     i turned back toward the stage.
                     waited for the music to begin.

D A Pennebaker (1925-2019)

8/14/2019

The great director D. A. Pennebaker passed away earlier this month. His multi-decade filmography includes Dont Look Back, Monterey Pop, and Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. In 1964 he directed You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You, a short documentary that focuses on Timothy Leary and Nena von Schlebrügge's wedding. Charles Mingus appears in the film, playing piano.

Mingus Awareness Project Concert at the Firehouse Theatre

8/7/2019

A Mingus Awareness Project concert happened
at the Firehouse Theatre in June. Here're the details.

Mingus (Joni Mitchell album) released 40 years ago

6/20/2019

Joni Mitchell released her amazing album Mingus 40 years ago. The album teems with great songs and remarkable virtuosity by the musicians involved. Here's a live version of "The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines," which involved a collaboration between Mingus and Mitchell.

Saalik Ziyad

2/27/2019

The multi-talented vocalist, composer and arranger Saalik Ziyad passed away earlier this month. He was active on Chicago's music scene, and was a member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). He performed during several Mingus Awareness Project concerts. His musicality and spirit will be missed.

Here is the recording of "Free Cell Block F, 'Tis Nazi U.S.A." which was performed at The Promontory. Saalik's on vocals, and he also wrote the lyrics to this Mingus composition.

Mingus: Charles Mingus 1968

4/10/2018

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.

Little Rock Nine at 60

1/9/2017

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.

MAP Concerts in 2016

12/8/2016

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

MAP Concert at The Promontory

11/12/2015

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