Mingus in the Park

One week from today (on July 29, 2008), the 50th Anniversary Season of the Washington Square Music Festival will come to a close with a performance by the Charles Mingus Orchestra, performing works by the great jazz bassist and bandleader Charles Mingus (shown at left playing during the Bicentennial celebration in 1976).

The concerts take place in the Southeast quadrant of the park, near the statue of Garibaldi. The program starts at 8:00 p.m. and is scheduled to include the following works: "Taurus in the Arena of Life," "Jelly Roll," "Noon Night," "All the things you could be by now (if Sigmund Freud's wife was your mother)," "Blue Cee," "The Shoes of the Fisherman's Wife (are some jive slippers)," "The Chill of Death," and "Tonight at Noon."

In the event of rain, the concert will be held at NYU's Frederick Loewe Theater at 35 West Fourth Street.

If you're interested in an introduction to Mingus's music, a good choice would be Mingus Ah Um, which is available for download at amazon.com.