Blues for Charles: A Mingus Tribute
Nick Tipping Quartet and the Dunedin Youth Jazz Orchestra, directed by Bill Martin
The Spring Concert series continues at Hanover Hall in October with “Blues for Charles”, a tribute curated by club director Bill Martin to the legendary American double bassist and composer, Charles Mingus. Headlining the concert will be double bassist and RNZ presenter Nick Tipping, who will collaborate with local musicians Nick Cornish (alto), Bill Martin (piano) and Carl Woodward (drums) to present a set of jazz standards composed by Mingus for smaller ensembles. At the start of the concert, the Dunedin Youth Jazz Orchestra will present a set of five classic Mingus compositions that have been adapted for the standard Big Band format.
Charles Mingus is a legendary figure in American jazz history, having collaborated with legends such as Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton in his early career, before becoming a bandleader of various ensembles including combos and Big Bands. Growing up in LA, he initially studied as a classical cellist, but due to barriers of musical literacy and racial discrimination, he made the switch to double bass and was soon recognised as a “prodigy” in New York. Many of his albums on the Atlantic label - Ah Um, Blues and Roots and The Clown - have become classics and provide much of the inspirations for the selections in this concert, including the tunes “Better Get it in your Soul”, “Fables of Faubus” and “Moanin”, which have been arranged for standard Big Band format.
Double bassist Nick Tipping is well known for hosting “Inside Out”, a weekly jazz program on RNZ, but in recent times has been leading his own “Tiptet”, as well as performing with The Jac, who last year presented a tribute concert of Mingus’ The Black Sinner and the Saint at the Wellington Jazz Festival. Tipping has performed with pianist Bill Martin and drummer Carl Woodward on numerous occasions and is excited to lead a quartet with local alto sax legend Nick Cornish. The repertoire includes some of Mingus’ more intimate compositions, such as the experimental blues “Goodbye Porkpie Hat”, the ballad “Alice’s Wonderland” and the bebop-inspired “Jump Monk”. Expect some creative and interwoven improvisations from these players, as well as a performance of the original composition “Blues for Charles”, which has been written by Martin for the concert.
Hanover Hall is a licensed venue with a cash bar. Tickets can be purchased as www.dunedinjazz.club
Adult: $28.75 (incl. GST) | Cash $30
Senior / Unwaged: $23 (incl. GST) | Cash $25
Student: $17.25 (incl. GST) | Cash $20
The Dunedin Jazz Club is supported by the Dunedin City Council and the Otago Community Trust
Full Details:
Dunedin Jazz Club
Saturday 11 October, Hanover Hall, 7:30pm
Blues for Charles: A Mingus Tribute
Nick Tipping Quartet and the Dunedin Youth Jazz Orchestra, directed by Bill Martin
Personnel:
Nick Tipping (double bass)
Nick Cornish (alto sax)
Bill Martin (piano)
Carl Woodward (drums)
Timings: 7pm (doors open), 7:30 (Set One - the Dunedin Youth Jazz Orchestra ), 8:30 (Set Two - Nick Tipping Quartet), 9:30 (Finish)
Bio:
Nick Tipping is well known to the listening public through his curation of “Inside Out”, the weekly jazz show on RNZ. Tipping is champion of jazz made and performed in Aotearoa, a passion which stems from his Masters degree in jazz performance from UNLV in the USA and Ph D thesis on Wellington jazz in the contexts of New Zealand Music and Global jazz. Tipping was also Head of Jazz at NZ School of Music from 2007-2011 and brings a wealth of performance experience and knowledge to the band stand.
Tipping combines excellence in performance and presentation. Nick is a frequent performer in Wellington and around New Zealand, in jazz, classical crossover, musical theatre and contemporary pop music. Nick has worked with groups as diverse as the Rodger Fox Big Band, the NZSO, the NZ String Quartet, and Grammy-winning jazz musicians Mike Stern and Kurt Elling. He toured the country with Chamber Music NZ in 2017 with his octet The Jac. Tipping has also performed with national and international stars such as Bic Runga and Kenny Burrell.
Also check out other Entertainment events in Dunedin, Music events in Dunedin, Concerts in Dunedin.
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