Aardvark Jazz Orchestra Celebrates America250

"Aardvark suggests the best and the brashest of Charles Mingus, Gil Evans, George Russell, and even Frank Zappa." - JazzTimes

Mandorla Music presents The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra in a wide-ranging celebration of America250. The band, led by founder and music director Mark Harvey, will perform music from the Revolutionary era to the present day, honoring freedom, diversity, inclusion and other bedrock ideas of democracy. Aardvark has been called “stunning beautiful and adventurous” (The New York City Jazz Record), “spellbinding” (The Boston Globe) and “one of the best jazz ensembles in the world.” (Jazz Podium, Germany).

The October 24 concert is the opening event of Aardvark’s historic 54th season. The concert begins with Chester (1770) by Boston composer William Billings, evoking the beginnings of our democracy.  The America250 theme continues with original works by Mark Harvey; for example, The Journey (commemorating the struggle for desegregation in Boston schools from the 1850s to the 1970s and beyond); Of the People (for Lincoln and Civil War); Passione (evoking the story of immigrants in America); No Walls (Aardvark’s anthem of inclusivity); and Peace, Goodwill.  Aardvark will mark the centennials of both John Coltrane and Miles Davis with the rarely-heard Miles Mode, Coltrane’s tribute to Davis.