November 27-December 3, 2003

musicpicks

Electric Mingus Project

jazz

It's hard to imagine Charles Mingus playing an electric bass -- somehow the instrument would have seemed puny against his bear-like frame. But Mingus' music actually holds up well under amplification, as Gerald Veasley has been demonstrating for the past few years. Philly's own Veasley, one of the finest electric bassists in jazz, formed the Electric Mingus Project as a means of approaching his towering hero in a new way. He achieves this feat by playing with timbre. Veasley's own sound can approximate a variety of colors, and he employs the full spectrum here. His rhythm section includes Tony Miceli, whose vibraphone makes for an effectively resonant piano substitute. And in the frontline, John Swana and Chris Farr play not only their usual trumpet and saxophone, but also electronic wind and valve instruments and other effects. It all adds up to a strikingly contemporary sound -- one that Mingus himself might have loved.

Fri., Nov. 28, 5:45 and 7:15 p.m., free with museum admission, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th St. and the Parkway, 215-684-7506.

—Kyle Parker

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