Mingus Big Band
The Pocket130 West 46th Street, New York 10036
Mingus Big Band brings its ongoing Mingus Mondays residency to The Pocket with a 14-piece ensemble devoted exclusively to the music of Charles Mingus. Created by Sue Mingus, the band plays new large-ensemble arrangements of compositions that Mingus envisioned for bigger forces but could not always assemble during his lifetime. The night is built around the open, shifting structures of that music, making room for deep exploration and individual artistic expression in the spirit of Mingus’ Jazz Workshop projects.
Drawing on a rotating cast of established and rising New York musicians, Mingus Big Band has made its name through spontaneous readings of this demanding book. The group carries forward Mingus’ legacy as composer, bassist and activist while continually reshaping the material in performance. Its recorded work has received seven Grammy nominations, including one for The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions in 2022, and it won a Grammy in 2011 for Live at Jazz Standard. This is a chance to hear Mingus’ compositions treated as living music: arranged for a full band, opened up for the players in the room, and renewed from one Monday to the next.
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.