Aardvark Jazz Orchestra Election Year Concert, MIT Cambridge, Oct 30 at 7:30 pm

Oct. 17, 2010 - PRLog -- The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra (Mark Harvey, Director) stages its own pre-election high jinx in a concert at MIT Killian Hall, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA on Saturday, October 30 at 7:30 pm  (free admission, for information call 617 452 3205 or visit www.aardvarkjazz.com). The band, known for its provocative, politically charged compositions, offers a survey of politics and culture in these United States. Expect an exuberant mix of Mark Harvey originals such as Big Oil Tango, March of the Booboisie, the ever-popular Flat Earth Boogie and the award-winning Scamology.  


Founded in 1973, the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra is known for its eclectic and exhilarating concerts spanning the jazz and American music spectrum.  The band specializes in original exploratory works by founder and music director Mark Harvey, together with wide-ranging repertory including Ellingtonia; American music by such composers as Ives, Gottschalk, and Billings; spiritual music in the jazz tradition; and performances with film, dance and poetry, as well as symphonic and choral ensembles.  Winner of the 2000 Independent Music Awards, Aardvark has premiered more than 120 works for jazz orchestra and has released 10 CDs including 5 discs on the prestigious Leo Records label.  Jazz Review (UK) touted Aardvark's "imagination, exuberance and sheer brio," while Jazz Improv praised “an unapologetic creative edge…all the soloists play with passion and conviction.” The band's latest CD, American Agonistes (Leo Records) has been called "a stunning hour of music that is, in turn, beautiful, poignant and raucous" (billboard.com).  

Mark Harvey has performed as trumpeter in the U.S., Mexico and Europe; has recorded with George Russell (Blue Note) and Baird Hersey (Arista/Novus); and performed with Gil Evans, Claudio Roditi, Howard McGhee, Sam Rivers, and others.  An internationally acclaimed composer with over 120 works in his catalogue, he has received awards and commissions from ASCAP, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the 15th Annual John Coltrane Memorial Concert, the Organization of American Kodaly Educators, and Meet-the-Composer-Lila Wallace/Reader’s Digest Commissioning Program, among others.  An ordained Methodist minister, Dr. Harvey has given lectures and workshops on music, religion, and culture throughout the United States and in Europe.   He teaches jazz studies at MIT.

The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra is managed exclusively by Americas Musicworks, Rebecca DeLamotte, managing director, Somerville, MA.  Visit www.americasmusicworks.com or call 888 887 7169.

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Americas Musicworks is an artist management company representing award-winning jazz and classical ensembles who tour internationally, appearing in festivals, concert halls, colleges and universities, museums, clubs, libraries, and other venues. Ensembles under management by Americas Musicworks perform live concerts, workshops, lecture-demonstrations, recording projects, multi-media presentations and other activities.