Mingus Awareness Project concerts have been presented since 2007 -- in Richmond, VA (Balliceaux, The Camel, CenterStage Rhythm Hall and Firehouse Theatre); and the Chicago area (Velvet Lounge, FitzGerald’s, Jazz Showcase, Hideout, HotHouse and Martyrs’).
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), is a rapidly progressive disease that causes muscle weakness, difficulty speaking and swallowing and, generally, complete paralysis. In most cases, while the body continues to deteriorate, the mind remains unaffected. The disease does not discriminate, striking any age, gender and race. Every 90 minutes, someone in the US is diagnosed with ALS and every 90 minutes, someone in the US dies of ALS. There is no known cure for ALS and, once diagnosed, patients typically live only three to five years.
Band Info:
Toby Whitaker (Ensemble) is a trombonist, composer, and educator, residing in Richmond, Virginia. He has served as Assistant Professor of Music at Virginia Commonwealth University and has taught various music courses at Rutgers University and Christopher Newport University. He is the current instructor of trombone at the University of Richmond. At VCU, Toby directed the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, taught applied jazz trombone lessons, and taught Jazz Improvisation, Jazz Arranging, and Jazz Theory/Aural Skills.
Toby has toured throughout the United States with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, under the direction of Buddy Morrow. He has performed internationally with the salsa ensemble Bio Ritmo, for which he also composes. With the brass quintet Trombone Paradise, Toby has traveled from San Francisco to Mexico City to London as a part of the indie rock group Bon Iver. He has performed at music festivals and venues in New York, Chicago, Puerto Rico, Spain, Italy, France, England, Switzerland, Poland, and the Republic of Georgia.
As a composer, Toby has written for and led his own big band and orchestrated the compositions of Bio Ritmo for The Richmond Symphony Orchestra. His arrangements have been featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert, at the 2014 Mingus Awareness Project in Richmond, VA, on WBGO Jazz Public Radio in Newark, New Jersey, and at The Blue Note in New York City.
Toby received his Master of Music in Jazz Performance from Rutgers University, where he studied with trombone virtuoso Conrad Herwig and his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University.
https://www.tobywhitakermusic.com
Charles Owens Quartet:
Charles Owens is a master tenor saxophonist, composer, band leader, recording artist, and educator and has been performing, composing, and teaching for over 25 years.
After attending the New School and working as a musician in New York City from 1992 to 2004, he is currently living in Richmond, VA. Charles is an integral part of the vibrant music scene there and in Charlottesville, VA. He also travels back to New York City several times a year to perform at venues such as Smalls, The Django, Fat Cat and others, with his trio. He has made 9 albums as a leader and appeared and continues to appear on a plethora of recordings as a hired soloist. He’s performed with such jazz luminaries as Brad Mehldau, Mark Turner, Omer Avital, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Brian Blade, Peter Bernstein, Larry Goldings, Ari Hoenig, Alexander Claffy, Jeff Watts, and Joel Frahm among many others. He has devoted his life to pursuing excellence in music and bringing peace and happiness to his fellow humans with his saxophone playing, performing, and composing.
Charles Owens is a master tenor saxophonist, composer, band leader, recording artist, and educator and has been performing, composing, and teaching for over 30 years. After attending the New School and working as a musician in New York City from 1992 to 2004, he is currently living in Richmond, VA. Charles is an integral part of the vibrant music scene there and in Charlottesville, VA....Composer/Arranger Doug Richards is Professor Emeritus of the Department of Music, Virginia Commonwealth University. In 1997 he received the University's Outstanding Teaching Award. His former students have performed and recorded with many of the world’s leading jazz organizations including the Count Basie Orchestra, the Ray Charles Orchestra, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.