New Music Monday — Mingus Big Band, Taj Mahal, and Septology

New Music Monday debuts music from the following recordings on Monday, March 20, at noon on Lunchtime! with Arturo Gómez.

Mingus Big Band: “The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions”
In commemoration of the Charles Mingus centenary on April 22, 2022, the Mingus Band reunited in January 2020 under the direction of its founder, the widow Sue Mingus to record a tribute album to their namesake. The Mingus Big Band has recorded 11 albums, 7 of which received Grammy® nominations and winning one in 2011 for the “Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album.” This one ranks as their best to date in my opinion and will surely garner Grammy® consideration if not win it all again! The 14-piece Mingus Big Band will make a rare Denver appearance when KUVO JAZZ presents them at the Newman Center for Performing Arts at DU on Thursday, April, 6. Before and after their performance, this centennial tribute to Charles Mingus recording which features his son Eric on vocals for the popular “Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting” will evoke the greatness of Charles Mingus the bassist and composer!

Taj Mahal: “Savoy”
When one hears the name of Taj Mahal, it naturally conjures the image of the majestic mausoleum of India, however, music fans especially blues lovers think of the superb singer/guitarist/pianist/harmonica player with a storied history of enjoyable recordings and thrilling concerts. Born Henry St. Claire Fredericks Jr in May of 1942 in Harlem, he grew up in a musical household as both his parents were musicians. This session which is a tribute to the legendary Savoy Ballroom has been a goal of Taj Mahal for decades because his parents met at the “Home of Happy Feet” and were frequent dancers, especially to the sounds of their favorite band, Chick Webb with and without Ella Fitzgerald, As a musicologist and lover of all types of music from around the world he has recorded more types of world music than any other artist, so it was only fitting he would go to his childhood roots and record this album.

Septology: “The Black Forest Session”
The “invasion” of jazz musicians from Canada continues and we are so happy that our neighbors to the North have dozens of talented jazzers able to record and sent their music to us here in the USA. The latest is by an ensemble of 7 hence their name who traveled to Villingen in the famed Black Forest of Germany to record this outstanding session. All of the members are leaders of their own ground and all are exceedingly good playing their chosen instrument. In addition to the required rhythm section, the other 4 instruments are trumpet, tenor sax, clarinet, and guitar. The reason for these 7 Canadians to travel to the MPS Studio of the Black Forest in southern Germany is because the greatest of all Canadian jazz players, Oscar Peterson always said that this was his favorite studio to record at due to its acoustic quality and the remoteness of its location. After recording, Septology played live in several European clubs to high acclaim from reviewers and standing ovations from the audiences. One can only hope they come to Denver in the near future.

Now in its 20th Anniversary year of debuting the latest arrivals to the KUVO Jazz library, many of them are played ahead of their official release date. In addition to the music comments, I’ll provide a few tidbits about the artist in particular if it’s a new or an up-and-coming artist beginning at Noon every Monday.

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