3-DAY TRIBUTE, February 20 - 22, 2009
SUE MINGUS and JUSTIN DICIOCCIO, Producers
Friday, February 20 at 7:30 pm in Greenfield Hall
GUNTHER SCHULLER, Keynote Speaker
Panel Discussion with Justin DiCioccio, Moderator; Vincent Herring, Conrad Herwig, Andy McKee, Sue Mingus and Gunther Schuller
Saturday, February 21 at 7:30 pm in John C. Borden Auditorium
MSM MINGUS JAZZ COMBO, Steve Slagle, Guest Soloist Remy Le Boeuf, alto saxophone; Samuel Ryder, tenor saxophone; Jonathan Barnes, trumpet; Craig Davis, piano; Robert Samama, bass; and Will Clark, drums
Sunday, February 22 in John C. Borden Auditorium
1ST ANNUAL CHARLES MINGUS HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITION
Charles Mingus will be celebrated at Manhattan School of Music for three days, February 20 through 22, 2009 with a Charles Mingus Summit. This 3-day tribute to Mingus is being produced by Sue Mingus and Justin DiCioccio and will include the 1st Annual Charles Mingus High School Competition, open to high school jazz combos and big bands hailing from the North East, as well as concerts by Manhattan School of Music jazz ensembles, and the Mingus Dynasty. An awards ceremony, announcing the winning high school combo and big band, will conclude the 3-day Mingus tribute. Sue Mingus remarked about the 1st Annual Charles Mingus High School Competition, “Our adjudicators were impressed by the high quality of the submissions and thrilled to hear Mingus music played with such heart and commitment. We are all very excited to see Mingus energy thriving and inspiring these young musicians." Justin DiCioccio, one of the first jazz educators to introduce Mingus' music to students some thirty years ago said, “Not only was Mingus the foremost jazz bassist of his time, but as a composer his music has the essence of what jazz is about." The Charles Mingus Summit, is FREE and open to the public. For information, visit www.msmnyc.edu or www.mingusmingusmingus.com. Manhattan School of Music is located on the northwest corner of Broadway and 122nd Street in New York City.
The Charles Mingus Summit will open on Friday, February 20 at 7:30 pm in Manhattan School of Music's Greenfield Hall. At that time, Gunther Schuller, who had a longstanding relationship with Mingus, as well as editing and conducting Mingus compositions including Epitaph, will be on hand to join as the Keynote Speaker. Mr. Schuller was instrumental in bringing classical music composition and jazz improvisation together on the same level inspiring the movement known as Third Stream. Joining Gunther Schuller in a panel discussion will be Justin DiCioccio, the panel's moderator (Chair, MSM's Jazz Department), Vincent Herring (altoist and educator), Conrad Herwig (trombonist and educator), Boris Kozlov (bassist), and Sue Mingus (President, Let My Children Hear Music, The Charles Mingus Institute, and creator of repertory bands). A Q&A, open to the audience, will also be a part of Friday night's opening event.
On Saturday, February 21 at 7:30 pm in John C. Borden Auditorium will be the MSM Mingus Jazz Combo. This ensemble, under the direction of Saxophonist Steve Slagle, a longtime MSM faculty member and a member of the Mingus Orchestra, includes Remy Le Boeuf, alto saxophone; Samuel Ryder, tenor saxophone; Jonathan Barnes, trumpet; Craig Davis, piano; Ruben Samama, bass; and Will Clark, drums. Steve Slagle will also be showcased as guest soloist.
On Sunday, February 22, the 1st Annual Charles Mingus High School Competition will be held in the School's John C. Borden Auditorium, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. This competition, open to high school jazz combos and big bands hailing from the North East, will feature the five finalists in each of the jazz combo and big band categories. Some 60 submissions were received for the first round of pre-screening CDs, judged by Justin DiCioccio, Robin Eubanks and Vincent Herring. Adjudicators for the competition will be Conrad Herwig, Gunther Schuller, Boris Kozlov, Vincent Herring, Justin DiCioccio, and more. Hal Leonard provided the charts for all of the high school big bands, as well as lead charts for high school jazz combos entering the competition. Next year's competition will be open to high schools nationwide. The finalists (in alphabetical order) are:
BIG BAND CATEGORY
COMBO CATEGORY
At 5:00 pm, the Manhattan School of Music Jazz Orchestra conducted by Justin DiCioccio will perform the music of Mingus, followed at 5:30 pm by the Mingus Dynasty, that will include Boris Kozlav (playing Charles Mingus' lionhead bass), Vincent Herring, Conrad Herwig, Donny McCaslin, Justin Faulkner (high school drummer from Girard Academic Music Program in Philadelphia), Alex Sipiagin, and Helen Sung. An Awards Ceremony follows the concert, beginning at 6:00 pm. Awards will be given to the Best Big Band, Best Combo as well as for Outstanding Soloists, Outstanding Big Band Section, and for Outstanding Combo Arrangement. Two scholarships to Manhattan School of Music will also be awarded.
Charles Mingus is recognized as a major 20th-century composer, whose entire works have been acquired by the Library of Congress - a first for jazz, and a first for an African-American composer. Mingus left behind the largest legacy of composition in American music after Duke Ellington. The Mingus Bands remain devoted to this vast repertoire and under the artistic direction of Sue Mingus, play to critical acclaim throughout the world.
SUE MINGUS and JUSTIN DICIOCCIO, Producers
Friday, February 20 at 7:30 pm in Greenfield Hall
GUNTHER SCHULLER, Keynote Speaker
Panel Discussion with Justin DiCioccio, Moderator; Vincent Herring, Conrad Herwig, Andy McKee, Sue Mingus and Gunther Schuller
Saturday, February 21 at 7:30 pm in John C. Borden Auditorium
MSM MINGUS JAZZ COMBO, Steve Slagle, Guest Soloist Remy Le Boeuf, alto saxophone; Samuel Ryder, tenor saxophone; Jonathan Barnes, trumpet; Craig Davis, piano; Robert Samama, bass; and Will Clark, drums
Sunday, February 22 in John C. Borden Auditorium
1ST ANNUAL CHARLES MINGUS HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITION
- 10:00 AM - HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ COMBOS
- 2:00 PM - HIGH SCHOOL BIG BANDS
- 5:00 PM - MSM JAZZ ORCHESTRA Justin DiCioccio, Conductor
- 5:30 PM - MINGUS DYNASTY Boris Kozlov, Vincent Herring, Conrad Herwig, Donny McCaslin, Justin Faulkner, Alex Sipiagin, Helen Sung
- 6:00 PM - AWARDS CEREMONY
Charles Mingus will be celebrated at Manhattan School of Music for three days, February 20 through 22, 2009 with a Charles Mingus Summit. This 3-day tribute to Mingus is being produced by Sue Mingus and Justin DiCioccio and will include the 1st Annual Charles Mingus High School Competition, open to high school jazz combos and big bands hailing from the North East, as well as concerts by Manhattan School of Music jazz ensembles, and the Mingus Dynasty. An awards ceremony, announcing the winning high school combo and big band, will conclude the 3-day Mingus tribute. Sue Mingus remarked about the 1st Annual Charles Mingus High School Competition, “Our adjudicators were impressed by the high quality of the submissions and thrilled to hear Mingus music played with such heart and commitment. We are all very excited to see Mingus energy thriving and inspiring these young musicians." Justin DiCioccio, one of the first jazz educators to introduce Mingus' music to students some thirty years ago said, “Not only was Mingus the foremost jazz bassist of his time, but as a composer his music has the essence of what jazz is about." The Charles Mingus Summit, is FREE and open to the public. For information, visit www.msmnyc.edu or www.mingusmingusmingus.com. Manhattan School of Music is located on the northwest corner of Broadway and 122nd Street in New York City.
The Charles Mingus Summit will open on Friday, February 20 at 7:30 pm in Manhattan School of Music's Greenfield Hall. At that time, Gunther Schuller, who had a longstanding relationship with Mingus, as well as editing and conducting Mingus compositions including Epitaph, will be on hand to join as the Keynote Speaker. Mr. Schuller was instrumental in bringing classical music composition and jazz improvisation together on the same level inspiring the movement known as Third Stream. Joining Gunther Schuller in a panel discussion will be Justin DiCioccio, the panel's moderator (Chair, MSM's Jazz Department), Vincent Herring (altoist and educator), Conrad Herwig (trombonist and educator), Boris Kozlov (bassist), and Sue Mingus (President, Let My Children Hear Music, The Charles Mingus Institute, and creator of repertory bands). A Q&A, open to the audience, will also be a part of Friday night's opening event.
On Saturday, February 21 at 7:30 pm in John C. Borden Auditorium will be the MSM Mingus Jazz Combo. This ensemble, under the direction of Saxophonist Steve Slagle, a longtime MSM faculty member and a member of the Mingus Orchestra, includes Remy Le Boeuf, alto saxophone; Samuel Ryder, tenor saxophone; Jonathan Barnes, trumpet; Craig Davis, piano; Ruben Samama, bass; and Will Clark, drums. Steve Slagle will also be showcased as guest soloist.
On Sunday, February 22, the 1st Annual Charles Mingus High School Competition will be held in the School's John C. Borden Auditorium, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. This competition, open to high school jazz combos and big bands hailing from the North East, will feature the five finalists in each of the jazz combo and big band categories. Some 60 submissions were received for the first round of pre-screening CDs, judged by Justin DiCioccio, Robin Eubanks and Vincent Herring. Adjudicators for the competition will be Conrad Herwig, Gunther Schuller, Boris Kozlov, Vincent Herring, Justin DiCioccio, and more. Hal Leonard provided the charts for all of the high school big bands, as well as lead charts for high school jazz combos entering the competition. Next year's competition will be open to high schools nationwide. The finalists (in alphabetical order) are:
BIG BAND CATEGORY
- Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra, Rochester, NY. Band Director: Howard Potter
- Gates Chili High School Jazz Ensemble, Rochester, NY. Band Director: Christopher Oldfield
- LaGuardia Senior Jazz Band, New York, NY. Band Director: Kevin Blancq
- Lexington High School Jazz Ensemble, Lexington, MA. Band Director: Jeffrey Leonard
- Rivers Big Band, The Rivers School, Weston, MA. Band Director: Philippe Crettien
COMBO CATEGORY
- Jazz Ensemble 3, Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, Hartford, CT. Band Directors: Kris Allen and Jimmy Greene
- King Phillip Regional High School Jazz Combo 1, Wrentham, MA. Band Directors: Peter Levesque and Peter Tileson
- LaGuardia High School Jazz Quintet, New York, NY. Band Director: Kevin Blancq
- Manasia Improv Ensemble, Manhattan School of Music Precollege, New York, NY. Band Director: Jeremy Manasia
- Rivers Select 1 Combo, The Rivers School, Weston, MA. Band Director: Philippe Crettien
At 5:00 pm, the Manhattan School of Music Jazz Orchestra conducted by Justin DiCioccio will perform the music of Mingus, followed at 5:30 pm by the Mingus Dynasty, that will include Boris Kozlav (playing Charles Mingus' lionhead bass), Vincent Herring, Conrad Herwig, Donny McCaslin, Justin Faulkner (high school drummer from Girard Academic Music Program in Philadelphia), Alex Sipiagin, and Helen Sung. An Awards Ceremony follows the concert, beginning at 6:00 pm. Awards will be given to the Best Big Band, Best Combo as well as for Outstanding Soloists, Outstanding Big Band Section, and for Outstanding Combo Arrangement. Two scholarships to Manhattan School of Music will also be awarded.
Charles Mingus is recognized as a major 20th-century composer, whose entire works have been acquired by the Library of Congress - a first for jazz, and a first for an African-American composer. Mingus left behind the largest legacy of composition in American music after Duke Ellington. The Mingus Bands remain devoted to this vast repertoire and under the artistic direction of Sue Mingus, play to critical acclaim throughout the world.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
