And the celebration continues! The flagship repertory ensemble Mingus Big Band continues to honor the legacy of the iconic bassist and composer Charles Mingus with their latest release, THE CHARLES MINGUS CENTENNIAL SESSIONS VOL. 2. The highly-anticipated follow up to the 2022 GRAMMY® Nominated first volume is being released today on all streaming platforms by Candid Records.
In honor of the 100th anniversary of Charles Mingus’ birth April 22, 2022, Mingus Big Band kicked off the celebrations in January of 2020 with the Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions. Over several days at Sound on Sound Studios in Montclair, New Jersey, the world-renowned Mingus repertory ensemble made one of their highest quality recordings to date.
Engineer Rich Keller spearheaded the recording, with sessions directed by co-leaders Alex Foster and Boris Kozlov, the latter playing Mingus’s legendary 1927 Ernst Heinrich Roth double bass. Highlights include vocals and narrations by Charles’ son Eric Mingus and a rotating lineup of first-class musicians in Mingus Big Band tradition, enabling the recordings to feature thirty-four musicians.
The Mingus compositions for the sessions were carefully selected by the creative team and THE CHARLES MINGUS CENTENNIAL SESSIONS VOL. 2. features eight more performances captured during these momentous recording dates. Inducing new arrangements of “GG Train” from the 1959 Mingus Ah Um album, “The Clown” the title track from the 1957 album, “Pithecanthropus Erectus” the title track from the 1956 album, “Peggy’s Blue Skylight” a staple for years in Mingus’ live sets, and “Song For Keki” a Mingus musical sketch from the film Mingus, recrafted by arranger Sy Johnson to create a fully-formed big band arrangement that debuts here.
LISTEN TO "THE CENTENNIAL SESSIONS VOL. 2" HERE
Mark Wexler Head of Candid Records stated, “It is an honor to be involved with the Charles Mingus Estate and to release the extraordinary Centennial Recordings by the Mingus Big Band. We have been fortunate to rerelease many of Mingus’ original recordings and without a shadow of a doubt Mingus Big Band carries his torch by keeping his music alive for a whole new generation.”
”Roberto Ungaro, President of Jazz Workshop, Inc. says, “My stepfather, Charles, and mother, Sue, both had a lifelong friendship with Nat Hentoff, so it is fitting and exciting for the next generation to be back at Candid, the label he created, and we look forward to future collaborations.”
Mingus Big Band performs exclusively the music of the legendary musician. Building off the strengths of Mingus Dynasty septet Sue Mingus formed after Mingus’ death in 1979, and 1989’s Epitaph orchestra, in 1991 she created this 14-piece band to feature new arrangements of Mingus compositions in a larger band format that Mingus wanted, but was not always able to organize in his lifetime. The dynamic structure encourages deep explorations and ever-evolving ideations of Mingus Music and provides a platform for individual artistic expression.
Drawing from a rotation of the best established and rising musicians, Mingus Big Band is highly sought-after by festivals and prestigious venues around the world. The band has twelve recordings to its credit, seven nominated for Grammys, and one win in 2011 with Live at Jazz Standard. The band has become a New York institution for locals and tourists alike, with a weekly residency now in its fourth decade. From Thursday nights at Fez under Time Cafe, to Joe’s Pub, Iridium, and at Mingus Mondays at Jazz Standard until its pandemic closure and now at their new home DROM NYC every Wednesday.
About Candid Records
Between 1960 - 1963 founder, A&R man, and producer Nat Hentoff recorded over 30 extraordinary albums for the new Candid Records label. One cannot underestimate the breadth of these recordings - from bebop to the avant-garde, to blues. Candid sat dormant for years until Black Lion Records founder and producer, Alan Bates, bought the label in 1989. The next phase of Candid Records is happening now. Since its relaunch in 2021, with these new phases of recordings, the label has reissued over 28 titles to high critical acclaim. Thanks to brilliant new releases has received five GRAMMY® awards – 2024 winners the Count Basie Orchestra, 2023 winners Terri Lyne Carrington and Wayne Shorter and 2022’s multiple GRAMMY® winner Eliane Elias. Today’s Candid is not only committed to its legacy but looks forward to defining its future with the quality music that is synonymous with its elite heritage. Learn more at www.candidrecords.com
About Exceleration Music
Exceleration Music is a company formed by global music industry leaders Glen Barros, Amy Dietz, John Burk, Dave Hansen and Charles Caldas to invest in the future of independent labels and artists. Exceleration offers personalized solutions to entrepreneurs seeking capital to achieve growth as well as those trying to achieve liquidity or an honorable exit. The company’s growing team of data, sales and marketing experts works to preserve and enhance the legacies of both the entrepreneurs and their artists alike. To date, Exceleration has strategic relationships with SideOneDummy, Alligator Records, Candid Records, Bloodshot Records, Kill Rock Star, Mom+ Pop and the Ray Charles Foundation/Tangerine Records, Heroic Music Group and Redeye Distribution. Learn more at www.excelerationmusic.com