The Mingus Dynasty
Zinc Bar82 West 3rd Street, New York 10012
The Mingus Dynasty brings Charles Mingus’s music to Zinc Bar for an evening of repertoire drawn from the composer’s extensive body of work. The band was formed to carry that music forward, and the current musicians approach it through their own individual voices and musical personalities. The bill offers two sets, giving listeners two chances to hear this continuing exploration of Mingus’s rich and varied legacy.
Sue Mingus organized Mingus Dynasty after Charles Mingus died in 1979, initially working with his own sidemen to honor his life and work. Charles Mingus was an iconic, trailblazing bassist, but he described himself first and foremost as a composer. He left more than 300 compositions, making a performing band devoted to his work a natural, if unanticipated, mission. More than four decades on, Mingus Dynasty continues to bring that catalogue to the bandstand, with new generations of musicians engaging the music rather than treating it as a fixed museum piece.
Zinc Bar offers a richly textured experience where the past and present of jazz converge in a single, dimly lit room adorned with Art Deco details like velvet upholstery, polished brass, and a Parisian zinc bar. The venue’s layout centers around a close-up stage and a vintage bar, creating a setting where the music is both the focus and a shared journey. Patrons can expect expertly crafted cocktails alongside performances that range from world-class jazz to vibrant Brazilian and African rhythms, often featuring multiple sets and occasional late-night jams. The seating is lounge-style, encouraging attentive listening rather than casual chatter, making it a place to immerse fully in the sound. This is a space where history lingers, once hosting legends like Billie Holiday and Thelonious Monk, now continuing their legacy with a sophisticated yet welcoming vibe.