Mingus Big Band
The Pocket130 West 46th Street, New York 10036
Mingus Big Band brings its continuing Mingus Mondays residency to The Pocket for a 14-piece reading of Charles Mingus’s music. Created by Sue Mingus, the ensemble plays exclusively Mingus compositions, using new large-band arrangements for the expanded format he wanted but could not always assemble during his lifetime. Its rotating personnel gives the material room for deep exploration and individual expression, in the spirit of Mingus’s Jazz Workshop projects.
Formed in New York by Sue Mingus in 1991, the band grew from the Mingus Dynasty septet and the Epitaph orchestra, drawing on a changing roster of established and rising city musicians. It has received seven Grammy nominations, most recently for The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions in 2022, and won in 2011 for Live at Jazz Standard. Reviewers have heard both precision and risk in the group: The New York Times called it “the jazz repertory event of the season,” praising its “willingness to take chances” and “guts and soulfulness”; The Guardian cited “power, passion and capricious swing,” while The London Times noted its “workshop spontaneity.”
The Pocket offers a close-up encounter with world-class jazz musicians in a small, focused setting where every note feels immediate and unfiltered. The room is designed to bring listeners near the performers, creating a direct connection that makes the music feel personal and vivid. Seating is limited and arranged to emphasize attentive listening rather than casual socializing, with a bar available to complement the experience. Shows are ticketed, encouraging an audience that is there to fully engage with the performance. The venue’s location in Manhattan places it within easy reach of the city’s vibrant cultural pulse, making it a perfect spot for an evening dedicated to serious jazz appreciation without distractions.