Buenos Aires Times: Mingus Centennial Festival in Buenos Aires to celebrate legendary US jazz musician
The Mingus Centennial Festival, marking 100 years since Charles Mingus’ birth, takes place this Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30, 2022 at the Centro Cultural 25 de Mayo.
With composer and performer Jennifer Griffith as Artistic Director, the festival will feature renowned saxophonist and composer Dr. Salim Washington as its honoured guest. Producer Ana Carrino and Artistic Producer Manuela Chavez also make up the team behind the centennial celebration.
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Ms. Griffith, a singer herself, writes the most articulate vocal lines imaginable.
— SoundWordSight
Jennifer Griffith artfully weaves together a wonderful tapestry of musical passion and humor — she’s a kindred spirit to Richard Strauss, unafraid of wanton borrowing — and with an uncanny mastery of operatic tradition. And frankly, she has the ability to write with the range, intensity, passion — and balanced moodshifts of a Strauss. This little vignette shows mastery of craft and is intensely funny.
Mark Greenfest of the New Music Connoisseur
Griffith pairs a seductively-attired (dominatrix) singer/speaker with a chamber orchestra, each member of which, at one laugh-inducing point, sings two lines of “We Are the World,” when international policy is invoked in the spoken text. Sample a few lines: “Have you been naughty again? Do I have to punish you for taking advantage of that–employee? Drop you pants and come to your mistress you bad little boy!,” and you might get the drift. The whole piece is whimsical, dreamlike indeed, and it certainly more than kept my attention. At times, I couldn’t help being swept up by a gentle yet indescribable wave of nostagia.
Sean Hickey — New Music Connoisseur