Marcus Shelby Sextet

Marcus Shelby and his Sextet return to Keys Jazz Bistro for Conversation: The Language of Charles Mingus — a powerful deep dive into the creative life of one of the greatest artists of the 20th century, featuring rarely performed Mingus compositions from 1950–1960, excerpts from Beneath the Underdog, and commentary by bandleader and bassist Marcus Shelby himself. Mingus’s music was a critical force in the Civil Rights movement, fusing lyrics, chants, and shouts with inventive, layered melodies that reflected a piercing mood born of his colorful character and his lifelong battle against racism and social injustice — and tonight’s program honors that legacy with the depth and reverence it deserves. Shelby is joined by a stellar sextet: Darren Johnson on trumpet, Tony Peebles on alto saxophone, Danny Lubin-Laden on trombone, Greg Jacobs on piano, and Jemal Ramirez on drums.