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Global Music Adventures at the Musical Instrument Museum

By Dave Kaufman
August 8, 2017
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The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM), located in North Phoenix, is a singularly unique experience in the world of music or museums, for that matter. The MIM displays over 6500 instruments from all corners of the globe. The experience is enhanced by superb video and audio presentations that situate the music in historical and cultural contexts. Although there is much information to be absorbed, the exhibits are presented with great artistry, clarity of purpose and entertainment value. Visiting the MIM is a magnificent experience for all music lovers even those individuals not so inclined to visit museums. The MIM also houses a beautiful concert hall that seats about 300 people and features great acoustics and excellent sight lines. It also has spacious seating which lends itself to dancing when the occasion presents itself. It is a great venue to listen to live music.

The MIM Music Theater presents over 250 concerts a year that covers the gamut of artistic styles and music that spans the globe. I've had the pleasure of seeing a number of excellent jazz concerts by artists such as

The Cookers

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">The Cookers,

Kneebody

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Kneebody,

The Bad Plus

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.2000

" data-original-title="" title="">The Bad Plus,

Bill Frisell

guitar, electric
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Frisell,

Regina Carter

violin
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Regina Carter,

John Scofield

guitar
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">John Scofield,

Aaron Goldberg

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Aaron Goldberg,

Joshua Redman

saxophone
b.1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Joshua Redman,

Charles Lloyd

saxophone
b.1938

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Lloyd,

Billy Childs

piano
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Childs,

Chris Potter

saxophone, tenor
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Potter,

Dr. Lonnie Smith

organ, Hammond B3
1942 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Dr. Lonnie Smith,

John Hollenbeck

drums
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">John Hollenbeck's Claudia Quintet,

Ben Wendel

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Wendel,

Jane Monheit

vocals
b.1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Jane Monheit,

Lizz Wright

vocals
b.1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Lizz Wright,

Cecile McLorin Salvant

vocals
b.1989

" data-original-title="" title="">Cecile McLorin Salvant and

Anat Cohen

clarinet
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Anat Cohen with

Trio Brasileiro

" data-original-title="" title="">Trio Brasileiro. The MIM also features the finest in "roots rock" music including acts such as

Richard Thompson

guitar
b.1949

" data-original-title="" title="">Richard Thompson,

John Hiatt

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">John Hiatt, Lucinda Williams and

La Santa Cecilia

" data-original-title="" title="">La Santa Cecilia. But the theater is best known for its stellar lineup of artists from around the globe. I am particular partial to African Blues guitar and have had the great pleasure of seeing Amadou and Mariam and

Bombino

" data-original-title="" title="">Bombino (hailing from Mali and Niger, respectively) in the past year. Cuban music has a long and celebrated history and has had enormous influence on many other genres including jazz. The music of the Afro-Cuban Allstars and

Cubanismo

" data-original-title="" title="">Cubanismo encapsulate the many traditions and styles that make Cuban music so unique.

Jane Bunnett

saxophone, soprano
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Jane Bunnett also led an all-female Cuban sextet, Maqueqe that offered a fresh and exciting take on the Cuban jazz tradition. Of course, this is only a small sample of the world class concerts presented at the MIM.

The following slideshow presents photos taken at the MIM over the course of the last four years. Enjoy! View Slideshow

Mariam Doumbia With Amadou At The Musical Instrument Museum...

Yves Abadi with Amadou and Mariam At The Musical Instrument...

Christophe Tribert with Amadou and Mariam At The Musical...

Charles Frederik Avot with Amadou and Mariam At The Musical...

Amadou And Mariam At The Musical Instrument Museum (mim) In...

Amadou Bakayoko And Mariam Doumbia At The Musical...

Amadou Bagayoko with Mariam At The Musical Instrument...

Aminata Doumbia with Amadou and Mariam At The Musical...

Amadou Bagayoko with Mariam At The Musical Instrument...

Amadou Bagayoko With Mariam At The Musical Instrument...

Ben Street with the Chris Potter Quartet At The Musical...

Dan Weiss With The Chris Potter Quartet At The Musical...

Chris Potter And Dan Weiss With Quartet At The Musical...

David Virelles with the Chris Potter Quartet At The Musical...

David Virelles, Chris Potter, Ben Street And Dan Weiss With...

Chris Potter with Quartet At The Musical Instrument Museum...

David Virelles with the Chris Potter Quartet At The Musical...

Chris Potter With Quartet At The Musical Instrument Museum...

David Virelles With The Chris Potter Quartet At The Musical...

Chris Potter And Ben Street With Quartet At The Musical...

Alex Bendana with Santa Cecilia At The Musical Instrument...

Jose Carlos with Santa Cecilia At The Musical Instrument...

La Marisoul With Santa Cecilia At The Musical Instrument...

Santa Cecilia At The Musical Instrument Museum (mim) In...

David Sutton, Lucinda Williams, Butch Norton And Stuart...

La Marisoul And Jose Carlos With Santa Cecilia At The...

Tammatta (double Kettledrum) On Display At The Musical...

Stuart Mathis with Lucinda Williams At The Musical...

David Sutton with Lucinda Williams At The Musical...

Lucinda Williams At The Musical Instrument Museum (mim) In...

Butch Norton with Lucinda Williams At The Musical...

Danzaq Costume On Display At The Musical Instrument Museum...

Jesus Alemany And Cubanismo At The Musical Instrument...

Cubanismo At The Musical Instrument Museum (mim) In Phoenix

Ibanez Triple Neck Guitar (used By Steve Vai) On Display At...

Sousaphone On Display At The Musical Instrument Museum...

Bombino At The Musical Instrument Museum (mim) In Phoenix

Youba Dia And Bombino At The Musical Instrument Museum...

Bombino At The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) In Phoenix

Youba Dia, Bombino And Corey Wilhem With Bombino At The...

Guitar Exhibit On Display At The Musical Instrument Museum...

Darbuka On Display At The Musical Instrument Museum (mim)...

Youba Dia With Bombino At The Musical Instrument Museum...

Bombino At The Musical Instrument Museum (mim) In Phoenix

Bombino At The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) In Phoenix

Corey Wilhelm with Bombino At The Musical Instrument Museum...

Bombino At The Musical Instrument Museum (mim) In Phoenix

Tany Allende and the Afro-Cuban Allstars At The Musical...

Juan De Marcos And Gliceria Abreu And The Afro-cuban...

Juan de Marcos and the Afro-Cuban Allstars At The Musical...

The Afro-cuban Allstars At The Musical Instrument Museum...

View more photos

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