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Updated 5/9/2019

Aardvark Jazz Orchestra

  • M

    MA

Institution/Business Type: Performing Group

JazzTimes hailed the band as "a “bracing walk on the wild side of the big band spectrum. …Aardvark suggests the best and the brashest of Charles Mingus, Gil Evans, George Russell, and even Frank Zappa.”" Founded in 1973, the legendary band performs critically-acclaimed original music by founder/director Mark Harvey, and is known for its exhilarating concerts of Duke Ellington’'s music, works by other American masters, and performances with film, poetry, and dance. Winner of the 2000 Independent Music Awards, the band has premiered 175 new works and released 15 CDs to rave reviews around the globe ("a stunning hour of music that is in turn beautiful, poignant and raucous” -- Billboard.com). Trumpeter/composer Mark Harvey won Meet the Composer grants and awards/commissions from ASCAP, National Endowment, and Lila Wallace/Reader’s Digest Commissioning Program; performed with George Russell, Baird Hersey, Gil Evans, Sam Rivers; teaches at MIT.

Find Me

Rebecca DeLamotte
Job Title: Manager
Phone: 617-776-8778
Fax: 617-629-2915
Address:
Americas Musicworks
29 Newbury Street
Somerville, MA 02144

Social Media:

Additional Content:

About

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Performing Group

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship

Year Founded:

1973

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Performing Group

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship

Year Founded:

1973

Disciplines

Primary Discipline:

Music - Jazz

Additional Disciplines:

  • Music - Jazz

Activities and Services

Activities and Services:

  • Creation of a Work of Art (Including Commissions)
  • Film Showings
  • Performance / Concert / Reading
  • Residency - Community
  • Residency - In School
  • Residency - Other
  • Workshops / Demonstrations / Master Class
Seasons Active: spring, summer, fall, winter
Events Per Year: 10

Communities

Populations Engaged:

  • Adults
  • Businesses
  • Elders
  • Families
  • General Public
  • Immigrant Populations
  • Nonprofits
  • People with Disabilities
  • School Groups
  • Teens
  • Youth-At-Risk

Geographic Reach:

  • Multi-State Region
  • National

Media Gallery

I Have Worked With

MIT Music and Theater Arts

Date: 04/2019-04/2019

On April 6, 2018, internationally acclaimed tenor saxophonist Ricky Ford joined the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra on MIT's Main Stage, Kresge Auditorium, to perform rarities by Duke Ellington and new music by Aardvark director Mark Harvey, including the premiere of his latest work, Of the People. ­­­­­­­­ Aardvark was honored to share the stage with Ricky Ford, who played with the Ellington Orchestra under Mercer Ellington, and with Charles Mingus, Lionel Hampton, Abdullah Ibrahim, and other luminaries.  Aardvark has given many other concerts at MIT's Kresge Auditorium over the past decades, including premieres of new works by Aardvark director Mark Harvey; celebrations of Duke Ellington and other jazz legends; joint performances with tap dancer Tommy DeFranz and with local choruses and children's choirs; collaborations with MIT Symphony; and  performances with noted guest artists including Jaki Byard, Walter Thompson, Raj Mehta, others.  

JazzBoston

Date: 04/2019-04/2019

On April 28, 2019, JazzBoston presented Aardvark music director Mark Harvey with the Roy Haynes Award for life-time contribution to jazz and the jazz community.  Aardvark band members saluted Dr. Harvey with tributes honoring his leadership of the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra (46th season), and his commitment to social justice and outreach in Boston, New England, and beyond.  JazzBoston is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting jazz performances, education, outreach and awareness in the greater Boston area, using jazz to bridge divides, foster creativity, and improve lives.  Mark Harvey is one of four distinguished figures in the jazz community to receive the Roy Haynes Award.  Other recipients are Roy Haynes, Fred Taylor and Eric Jackson.  The event was held at Pastoral in Boston's Fort Point Channel district.

FiLmprov

Film / Video Business

Date: 02/2019-02/2019

On February 22, 2019, musicians of The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra performed with FiLmprov, creating spontaneous film scores through live musical improvisation to the animated films of Kate Matson.  The ensemble in the February 2019 show included Peter H. Bloom, Phil Scarff, Dan Zupan, woodwinds;  Mark Harvey, music director, trumpet; Bill Lowe, trombone;  John Funkhouser, piano, bass; Harry Wellott, drums.  The multi-media show was offered as part of a course in musical improvisation at MIT Cambridge.  Aardvark musicians and filmmaker Kate Matson have collaborated on numerous performances over more than 20 years, including a 20th Anniversary performance in 2016, interweaving music, film and poetry at the Armory Arts Center in Somerville MA. 

Emmanuel Episcopal Church Boston

Date: 12/2018-12/2018

On Saturday, December 8, 2018, The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra gave its 46th Annual Christmas Concert at Emmanuel Church, 15 Newbury St, Boston, MA.  Aardvark has held a benefit concert every year since its founding in 1973, when the band gave a benefit for the Chelsea Fire Fund.  In December 2018, the orchestra performed the premiere of music director Mark Harvey’s latest work, Healers of the Universe, a tribute to Boston social activist Kip Tiernan.  The piece was written in honor of the new sculpture installed in Kip’s honor in Copley Square in October 2018, where the Aardvark Jazztet has performed during the sculture unveiling.  Other music in the 2018 Christmas concert included What Child Is This, A Cradle in Bethlehem, and Mark Harvey’s Benedictus.  Proceeds from the concert were donated to The Poor People’s United Fund.  Other beneficiaries over the past 45 years have included Doctors Without Borders, American Friends Serivce Committee, Pine Street Inn, and other charities.  The Aardvark Christmas concerts, spanning almost 5 decades, have included illustrious guest artists Sheila Jordan, Howard McGhee, Semenya McCord, Ron Gill, Jack Powers, Kip Tiernan, Brother Blue and others.

Affiliations and Accomplishments

Professional Associations

Professional Associations:

  • Jazz Boston
  • ASCAP
  • Society of Arts Religion and Culture
  • Mark Harvey, MIT senior lecturer in music

Professional Associations

Professional Associations:

  • Jazz Boston
  • ASCAP
  • Society of Arts Religion and Culture
  • Mark Harvey, MIT senior lecturer in music

Awards

Awards:

  • Independent Music Award, best jazz recording.
  • Mark Harvey named Jazz Boston's Man of the Year 2013
  • Mark Harvey named by Jazz Journalists Association as Boston Jazz Hero 2015
  • Numerous commissions from MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble have included compositions written for and premiered by Joe Lovano and Steve Turre.
  • Commission from 15th Annual John Coltrane Memorial Festival
  • Mark Harvey honored with Roy Haynes Award 2019

Education

Education:

  • Mark Harvey holds a BA from Syracuse University, a Th.M from Boston University School of Theology, and a Ph.D from Boston University Graduate School, Division of Theological and Religious Studies with a major in Social Ethics.

Special Designations

Special Designations:

  • NEFA Grant Recipient

Artist Info

Teaching Artist

Teaching Settings:

  • Arts and Cultural Center / Venue
  • Community Site / Center
  • School / University

Ages Served:

  • Elementary School-age
  • Middle School-age
  • High School-age
  • College-age
  • Adults

Subject Areas:

  • Arts Integration - History and Social Science
  • Music

Teaching Artist

Teaching Settings:

  • Arts and Cultural Center / Venue
  • Community Site / Center
  • School / University

Ages Served:

  • Elementary School-age
  • Middle School-age
  • High School-age
  • College-age
  • Adults

Subject Areas:

  • Arts Integration - History and Social Science
  • Music

Touring Artist

NEST Eligible Artist

Technical Requirements:

  • Stage dimensions 25' x 25'. Concert-quality sound system suitable for 18 to 20-piece orchestra; qualified sound engineer. If available, concert grand piano tuned no more than 48 hours ahead. Film projection eqpmt to be discussed when applicable.

Fee Range:

$3,500 - $17,000

State of Residence:

Massachusetts

Minimum Number of Performers:

15

Maximum Number of Performers:

25