Mingus Dynasty (band)

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Jimmy Knepper

Mingus Dynasty is the name of a jazz combo that maintains the repertoire of the composer and band leader Charles Mingus .

Shortly after Mingus' death in December 1979, Jimmy Knepper , John Handy , George Adams , Hugh Lawson , Ted Curson and Dannie Richmond played with Charlie Haden Mingus compositions at the New York Bottom Line Club and, with the support of Sue Graham Mingus, laid the first Album Chair in the Sky . In 1980 Richmond went on a European tour with the last Mingus band ( Ricky Ford , Jack Walrath , Bob Neloms and Cameron Brown ) and played only compositions by Mingus.

The project was soon called Mingus Dynasty (after the Columbia LP Mingus Dynasty from 1959). Three years after Charles Mingus' death, another album was released under this name by former Mingus teammates such as Richard Williams , Jimmy Knepper, Sir Roland Hanna , Ricky Ford and younger Mingus admirers such as Reggie Johnson ( Reincarnation , 1982). The circle expanded to include the long-time Mingus pianists Jaki Byard , Horace Parlan and the trumpeters Randy Brecker and Jack Walrath , the saxophonists Craig Handy , Clifford Jordan and David Murray , and the flutist James Newton : The musicians regularly went on tour and played only compositions by Mingus.

From the Mingus Dynasty , some compositions by Charles Mingus such as Chair In The Sky , made famous by Joni Mitchell on Mingus in 1979, or Harlene (1991) have premiered.

In 1993 the Dynasty was initially discontinued in favor of the Mingus Big Band . For several years now, the Mingus Dynasty has been revived in the septet format; bassist Boris Kozlov is the musical director . Currently playing musicians like Craig Handy, Wayne Escoffery , Seamus Blake , Jaleel Shaw , Alex Foster , Frank Ku-Umba Lacy , Conrad Herwig , Luis Bonilla, Alex Sipiagin, Ryan Kisor , Boris Kozlov, John Benitez, Kenny Drew Jr. , George Colligan , Jonathan Blake or Donald Edwards.

Discography

  • 1979 Mingus Dynasty at Bottom Line (West Wind)
  • 1980 Dannie Richmond Plays Charles Mingus (Timeless)
  • 1982 Reincarnation (Soul Note)
  • 1987 Mingus' Sound of Love (Soul Note)
  • 1991 The Next Generation Performs Charles Mingus Brand New Compositions (Columbia / Sony)
  • 2005 I Am Three (EmArcy, with Mingus Orchestra and Big Band)

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