On May 17, a group of musicians will gather at Fitzgerald’s 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.
Nine Mingus Awareness Project concerts have happened in Chicago and Richmond, Virginia since 2007. Charles Mingus was born 90 years ago, and this year we are planning a special evening of music with this in mind. MAPtet will perform music by Charles Mingus, Eric Dolphy and Duke Ellington, as well as original compositions by members of the MAPtet -- ...
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On May 17, a group of musicians will gather at Fitzgerald’s 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.
Nine Mingus Awareness Project concerts have happened in Chicago and Richmond, Virginia since 2007. Charles Mingus was born 90 years ago, and this year we are planning a special evening of music with this in mind. MAPtet will perform music by Charles Mingus, Eric Dolphy and Duke Ellington, as well as original compositions by members of the MAPtet --
Jon Hey – piano
Fred Jackson -- alto saxophone
Steve Berry – trombone
Jon Godston -- soprano saxophone
Paul Hartsaw -- tenor saxophone
Tom Berg -- baritone saxophone
Dan Godston – trumpet
Alex Wing -- upright bass
Damon Short – drums
plus Rebecca Cohn -- trombone & other TBA special guests
The set list includes “Orange Was the Color of Her Dress, Then Blue Silk” (Charles Mingus), “Goodbye Porkpie Hat” (Mingus), “Hat and Beard” (Eric Dolphy), “Jelly Roll” (Mingus), “Better Get Hit In Your Soul” (Mingus), “Warm Valley” (Duke Ellington), “Fables of Faubus” (Mingus), “A Crush Mingles” (Jon Hey), “Haitian Fight Song” (Mingus), “Sue's Changes” (Mingus), “For Jaki Byard” (Alex Wing), “Jump Monk” (Mingus), “E's Flat, Ah's Flat Too” (Mingus), “Peggy's Blue Skylight” (Mingus), “Nostalgia in Times Square” (Mingus), and more.
This Mingus Awareness Project concert is presented by the Borderbend Arts Collective, in partnership with the Les Turner ALS Foundation. This will be the tenth Mingus Awareness Project concert since its inception in 2007. MAP concerts have happened in Chicago (at the Velvet Lounge, Jazz Showcase, Hideout, HotHouse and Martyrs’) and Richmond (at the Camel, Rhythm Hall and Gallery 5).
Attendees will have opportunities to participate in a raffle during the event—including donations from Sue Graham and the Jazz Workshop, Old Town School of Folk Music, Dusty Groove America, Neo-Futurists, iO’s Cabaret Theater, and more. Donations can be made to the Les Turner ALS Foundation via the Mingus Awareness Project link: http://lesturnerals.kintera.org/mingusawarenessconcert2012. Your donations are greatly appreciated. All proceeds go to benefit the Les Turner ALS Foundation.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or motor neuron disease (MND), causes motor neurons to stop working and die. The result is loss of voluntary movement and muscle functions such as speaking, swallowing, and breathing. ALS occurs regardless of race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status. ALS is most common between 40 and 70 years of age, although it can strike at any age. In the US, someone is diagnosed every 90 minutes, and 35,000 people are living with ALS. Average lifespan is three to five years from diagnosis. Approximately 10% of all cases are inherited forms, and a faulty protein pathway is known to play a role in all types of ALS. Though treatment of symptoms often improves quality of life, there is no cure for ALS.
About the Les Turner ALS Foundation
Since 1977, the Les Turner ALS Foundation has been a leader in research, patient care, and education about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), better known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and other motor neuron diseases (MND). The Foundation serves more than 90% of the ALS population in the Chicago area. The Foundation is also one of the nation's largest independent ALS organizations and has raised nearly $45 million to fight Lou Gehrig's disease. In addition, through wide-ranging research and symposiums for healthcare professionals, the Foundation reaches the ALS community worldwide. The Foundation is affiliated with Northwestern Medicine and is a founding member of the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations.
Links:
• Les Turner ALS Foundation: http://www.lesturnerals.org
• Mingus Awareness Project: http://www.mingusawarenessproject.org
• Borderbend Arts Collective: http://www.borderbend.org
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