OJS Presents: Ethan Philion Quartet and Mediations on Mingus

The Oberlin Jazz Society (OJS) presents Ethan Philion's Meditations on Mingus is a 10-person ensemble that performs Philion’s arrangements of compositions by Charles Mingus. The ensemble honors the legacy of Mingus as both a composer and a social activist; the band’s repertoire consists primarily of Mingus compositions that speak to social issues that continue to resonate today, like racism, economic inequality, and mental health.

Ensemble:
Russ Johnson and Victor Garcia, trumpet
Norman Palm and Brendan Whalen, trombone
Rajiv Halim, Geof Bradfield, and Max Bessesen '16, saxophones
Ethan Philion '14, bass
Dana Hall, drums
Alexis Lombre, piano 

“Meditations” was one of the headliners of the 2022 Chicago Jazz Festival and has performed at Dizzy's, Hyde Park Jazz Festival, the Green Mill, Nublu NYC, North Street Cabaret, Icehouse Minneapolis, Jazz Institute of Chicago showcase concerts, and more. Their 2022 self-titled album received widespread critical praise, including a Best-of-2022 selection by Downbeat and a 4-star review celebrating the album as "A labor of conspicuous love and respect for a musical titan whose music remains timeless and relevant." Philion was praised for his "chops and taste...sophisticated yet faithful arrangements." 

Philion, a 2014 graduate of Oberlin Conservatory and College, is a busy bassist in Chicago's jazz scene where he performs with artists including Jon Irabagon, Mark Feldman, Ryan Cohan, Tim Daisy, Tito Carillo, Alfonso Ponticelli, Ernest Dawkins, Geof Bradfield, Dee Alexander, Alyssa Allgood, and more. Philion was the 2018 International Society of Bassists Jazz Competition winner, a 2019 Luminarts Fellowship recipient, and has been praised in The Washington Post for his "well honed chops and astounding musicality." His quartet featuring Greg Ward, Russ Johnson, and Dana Hall is releasing their debut album, Gnosis, on Sunnyside Records this October.