Artists

“The best jazz orchestra in the world bears the name of the Mingus Big Band… A remarkable high standard of musicianship, energy and consistency” - The Washington Post

Charles Mingus may have died in 1979, but his widow Sue Mingus has ensured that his music lives on. Under her artistic direction, the Mingus Big Band has been paying tribute to this legendary figure of jazz for more than 15 years, with weekly residencies at New York clubs and extensive international tours. Comprised of 14 of the world’s finest jazz musicians, the band combines “ensemble spirit and instrumental mastery with quirky roughness and individualistic timbres needed for Mingus’s turbulent scores” (The Guardian). The Mingus Big Band has released eight recordings – six of which were nominated for Grammy Awards.

For a sneak preview of the Mingus Big Band concert, check out the track "Gunslinging Bird", from the Grammy-nominated album Gunslinging Bird, on the Wellington Jazz Festival jukebox.

Listen to Mingus Big Band

Event information

Mingus Big Band official link: http://www.mingusmingusmingus.com