Kevin Mingus about “Mingus on Mingus”

“Mingus on Mingus” a grandson discovering the truths behind the legend of the grandfather he never knew.

Kevin Ellington Mingus was 3 years old when his grandfather, jazz legend,  Charles Mingus passed away. Born in Los Angeles, California in 1976, Kevin grew up distanced from the creative legacy of his grandfather. Kevin started his musical journey at age 10 on guitar switching to double bass a year later, in fact it was not until his early youth that he discovered his grandfather’s passion for the bass.

Kevin attended the University of California, Berkeley furthering his studies in music. While Kevin had a strong upbringing in jazz , it was during his time at UC Berkeley that he became interested in other genres leading to further studies in Argentina during the late 1990s at the Manuel de Falla Music Conservatory where he studied tango, bandoneon and composition with Nestor Marconi.  

Also while at Berkeley Kevin made his first steps into the world of film. Fascinated by the disconnect with reality, Kevin started to document on film the happenings on campus with a camera given to him by his Aunt.  Kevin’s passion for film continued after moving to Berlin in 2002 where he ventured into a number of cross media projects combining music with theatre and new media and gaining experience in filming and producing documentaries. Also during this period Kevin worked intensively with Croatian filmmaker Sasa Oreskovic in Soundless Fall of the Gravitation and Rio Pekos.

Kevin’s current project is a feature length documentary titled “Mingus on Mingus” a documentary of a grandson discovering the truths behind the legend of the grandfather he never knew. There has been so much written about Charles Mingus and many of these stories have been rather exaggerated during the years.  In speaking with Kevin recently he stated “with this film I hope to discover the real Charles Mingus, the man behind the legend”.

The documentary will include many interviews with musicians that knew and worked with Charles including among others Sonny Rollins, Joni Mitchell, Ornette Coleman and Charles McPherson.  When asked about their reaction to the project, Kevin stated that everyone is extremely positive about the project and believes that the fact that the documentary is being made by a member of the Mingus family certainly impacted on their reaction.  Kevin believes that there is a sense of urgency in the production of the project, with the passing of each year that generation is disappearing; we need to document this as soon as possible.

 
To this end Kevin’s production company “Orange then blue”(named after the famous composition by Charles) has launched a crowd funding campaign on Kickstarter.com to assist in the financing of the project. The project is currently live on Kickstarter and has 19 day to go. If you wish to assist in moving the project forward you can follow the link below and pledge your support.

Check out the Mingus on Mingus Project on Kickstarter 

The St. Regis Doha set to be Home of Jazz in the Middle East

The St. Regis Doha today confirmed that it will be the first St. Regis hotel in the world – and the first venue outside of America  to host a Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) jazz club, as part of the unprecedented global partnership between St. Regis Hotels & Resorts and JALC.

Throughout the Jazz Age, The St. Regis Rooftop Ballroom in the landmark hotel in New York City played host to some of the finest jazz musicians in history. The rich musical legacy is now coming to Qatar thanks to the new agreement, which will bring a range of cultural and educational opportunities to the people of Qatar.

Jazz at Lincoln Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and growing audiences for jazz. Through this partnership, jazz programming will be developed at The St. Regis Doha, led by Wynton Marsalis, Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, providing both the novice and aficionado the opportunity to experience world-class jazz.

Tareq Derbas, General Manager, The St. Regis Doha, said: “We are delighted to welcome Jazz at Lincoln Center to its new home at The St. Regis Doha. We have promised our customers unmatched luxury and a rich range of entertainment options, and we believe that our signature venue, Jazz at Lincoln Center Doha, will delight and inspire our guests. I would like to thank our owner and the team responsible for beginning this exciting new era for jazz in the Middle East.”

The opening of Jazz at Lincoln Center Doha and The St. Regis Doha further solidifies Qatar as an emerging centre of culture, commerce and leisure in the Middle East. The hotel, scheduled to open early next year, promises to bring the legendary St. Regis luxury to this thriving commercial and business region.

Lisa Schiff, Chairman of JALC  stated “We are thrilled with the opportunity to work with St. Regis to reach new audiences and to support our mission of growing and inspiring audiences for jazz around the globe,”. The agreement is part of a wider global partnership, which will see the two New York icons together to jointly-conceptualise and create a series of jazz clubs around the world in multiple new St. Regis hotels.

For more information regarding Jazz at the Lincon Center check out their website

Mingus On Mingus

A documentary about a grandson’s journey through the lore and legends of jazz history to find his grandfather, Charles Mingus.

Last week I was approached by production company Orangethenblue with the question “would I be prepared to assist in the promotion of the crowd funding project for a documentary on the life of Charles Mingus?”. Well how could I say no. As a bass player Charles Mingus was and still is a great inspiration to me and I believe that this film will be a great addition to his legacy. In addition the film will be directed by Kevin Ellington Mingus (grandson of Charles Mingus) bringing a true personal perspective to the production.

The film will include interviews with legendary musicians including among others Sonny Rollins, Joni Mitchell, Ornette Coleman and Charles McPherson. The documentary will be filmed in locations ranging from India to New York to the Mingus Mill located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the only remaining landmark of the Mingus family settlement.    

To finance the production Orangethenblue have launched a crowd funding project on Kickstarter.com. Crowd funding is a great tool that fits beautifully into the New Music Economy and allows the general public to assist in the financing of cultural projects. By pledging an amount in return for a package of incentives the public can become not only consumers but stakeholders in a project. The Mingus on Mingus project offers a great range of Incentives ranging from copies of the DVD to invitations to the premiere to name just a few.  Pledges are only billed when the goal is met and the campaign has ended.

 
The Mingus project requires $45,000- to allow Orangethenblue to continue into the next stage of filming, planned for winter 2011 and spring 2012. Funds received will go into the production of the documentary for conducting interviews, travel and accommodation, equipment rental, camera operator as well as archival research fees and editing costs for a promotional trailer. If we exceed our goal, then proceeds will go toward the post-production budget including editing, mastering and licensing.

Please get behind this project and make your pledge today. 

To set the example the Dutch Jazz Times has just pledged $50 and the process is dead easy. Just go to the following link Mingus on Mingus and follow the steps outlined on the Kickstarter site.

Andrew  Read

Enrico Pieranunzi with John Patitiucci & Joey Baron kick off new concert series in New York's Merkin Concert Hall

D.JGreene and Associates together with E.A. Music Artist Management presents world renowned Italian pianist Enrico Pieranunzi performing for the first time with John Patitucci (bass) and Joey Baron (drums) for an evening of Jazz at Merkin Concert Hall, November 14, 2011.

Pieranunzi’s American trio history is studded with prestigious collaborations, from the legendary Marc Johnson/Joey Baron trio to his late 80s trio with Charlie Haden and Paul Motian. Enrico’s musical world, already rich in typical European aspects, is fused with the distinctive moods of the most gifted American musicians, leaving a personal mark on the fascinating progression of this classic jazz format.

Pieranunzi’s artistry has come full circle to this current collaboration with Grammy-winning bass player, John Patittucci. In addition to his solo work, Brooklyn-born Patitucci has played with B.B. King, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, George Benson, and Dizzy Gillespie. Rounding out the trio for this Merkin Hall date is drummer Joey Baron, best known for his work with Bill Frisell, Stan Getz, Steve Kuhn and Jim Hall. There’s no doubt that this trio’s live performance will generate a rich interplay tracing some stunning and unexpected musical adventures.

D.J. Greene & Associates and E.A. Artist Management are music impresarios committed to bringing jazz greats and new, up-and-coming U.S. and European musicians that typically perform at jazz clubs and introduce them and their music to a new audience in a concert setting.

Jo Bickhardt, founder and president of U.S. - based D.J Greene & Associates and Andrew Read, founder of European-based E.A. Music Artist Management, said, “We believe the time is right to celebrate and expand the world of jazz by introducing the music rarely heard in concert halls". We believe once audiences hear jazz in this new setting they will still experience the music intimacy of the jazz club setting.

DJ Greene & Associates are advocates for their artists, building and perfecting their career development and provide essential branding for professional growth. We have adapted niche marketing techniques and uncovered new career opportunities in the fast changing new music economy.  Our reach has expanded to European artists, venues and tour support. DJ Greene & Associates in association with European-based E. A. Music Artist Management represent a select number of international artists with prominence in the fields of Jazz, Classical and World Music.

Concert dates are

Enrico Pieranunzi Trio 14 November 2011 - Merkin Hall - New York

Concert starts at 8:00pm

Tickets available via the Merkin Hall Website

Enrico Pieranunzi - Solo 15 November 2011 - Merkin Hall - New York

Concert starts at 8:00pm

Tickets available via the Merkin Hall Website   

  

Reggie Washington trio embark on a European tour 2011

REGGIE WASHINGTON TRIO
Reggie Washington, bass | Jef Lee Johnson, guitar | Gene Lake, drums

September 15 to 22 will see Bassist Reggie Washington embark on a European tour with his Trio featuring  Jef Lee Johnson on Guitar and Gene Lake on drums. Reggie Washington’s previous track record should speak for itself with over more than twenty years recording, collaborating and/or touring with Cassandra Wilson, Don Byron, Oliver Lake, Me’shell N'degeOcello, Ronnie Cuber, Lester Bowie, World Saxophone Quartet, Mike Mainieri & Steps Ahead, Will Smith, M-Base Collective, Ute Lemper, Jean-Paul Bourelly, Uri Caine and Cheick-Tidiane Seck plus performing at almost every jazz and music festival worldwide with artists such as Roy Hargrove, Branford Marsalis, Steve Coleman and Chico Hamilton just to name a few. Reggie was also a participant in Bass Day '97 in NYC with Oteil Burbridge, John Patitucci, Billy Sheehan & Tony Levin.