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50th Anniversary Celebration of the Reno Jazz Festival with
The Mingus Big Band
Friday, April 27, 2012 / 7:30 p.m.
Lawlor Events Center
Considered one of the best of its kind in the world, and lauded by the San Francisco Chronicle as “showcasing music’s future,” the Reno Jazz Festival has been bringing Grammy winners, jazz superstars and the finest emerging young artists to town for nearly half a century. The Performing Arts Series is proud to partner in celebrating the festival’s 50th anniversary by hosting the world-class Mingus Big Band to wow the enthusiastic fans of RJF. The 14-piece Grammy-nominated band celebrates the music of the legendary late composer/bassist Charles Mingus, under the direction of Sue Mingus. Jazz greats who regularly play with the band include such superstars as Randy Brecker, Robin Eubanks, Jeff “Tain” Watts and many more.
"A better band than ever today…plenty of meaty, memorable solos… but the real star is this world-class band, swinging through Mingus' music with an ease that masks the pieces' difficulty." — People
"A spirited blend of the lush harmonies and boisterous blues sections, interwoven ensemble passages and sudden tempo shifts that made the late bassist Charles Mingus one of the most challenging and celebrated artists in jazz." — Los Angeles Times
"The Mingus Big Band is a wonder and an anomaly...the Mingus Band has taken a musical legacy and transformed it into a creative force that generates a contemporary originality and vitality all its own. They are an important part of the current jazz scene and a constant reminder that jazz is not merely entertainment but a powerful art form and means of expression." — New York Daily News
