Aardvark Jazz Orchestra at MIT Kresge Auditorium

The legendary orchestra opens its historic 50th season with music by Mark Harvey and Duke Ellington. Aardvark’s half-century celebration will feature music on themes of social consciousness, spirituality, and Boston cultural history – topics that have long been central to Aardvark concerts. Among the selections will be Harvey’s Faces of Souls and Ellington’s It’s Freedom. Faces of Souls is inspired by the Shaw Memorial in Boston, Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ powerful sculpture of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and his 54th Massachusetts Regiment, who were among the first African Americans to fight in the Civil War. A highlight of the concert will be the premiere of Harvey’s latest work, American Agonistes, channeling the moods of sorrow and outrage so characteristic of our times....

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The legendary orchestra opens its historic 50th season with music by Mark Harvey and Duke Ellington. Aardvark’s half-century celebration will feature music on themes of social consciousness, spirituality, and Boston cultural history – topics that have long been central to Aardvark concerts. Among the selections will be Harvey’s Faces of Souls and Ellington’s It’s Freedom. Faces of Souls is inspired by the Shaw Memorial in Boston, Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ powerful sculpture of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and his 54th Massachusetts Regiment, who were among the first African Americans to fight in the Civil War. A highlight of the concert will be the premiere of Harvey’s latest work, American Agonistes, channeling the moods of sorrow and outrage so characteristic of our times.

The October 1 concert is presented by MIT Music & Theater Arts to honor Mark Harvey’s long teaching career at MIT. Dr. Harvey recently retired after serving 40 years on the music faculty. The venue, MIT’s mainstage Kresge Auditorium, is well-suited for Aardvark’s 50th season kickoff, as Kresge was home to Aardvark’s annual Spring concerts for more than 30 years, hosting such notable Aardvark events as the 1986 appearance with guest artist Jaki Byard, the 1999 Duke Ellington Centennial, and the 2019 concert with guest artist Ricky Ford.

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