“I met Mingus through John Lewis, the pianist with the Modern Jazz Quartet. The three of us would sit for hours in the Carnegie Hall Tavern and talk about solving all the problems of the world.”
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In this excerpt from the 1997 documentary “Triumph of the Underdog,” Sue Mingus discusses the genesis of her relationship with Charles Mingus and the journey of "Mingus at Monterey," along with other independent original albums released through Charles Mingus Enterprises. John Handy, who played saxophone on the album, discusses the impact of the music. After many years out of print, "Mingus at Monterey" has been remastered and made available again on vinyl, CD, and digital platforms. Stream "Monterey" or order your copy at our homepage.
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Among his many other achievements, Drummond was also a vital part of the Mingus orbit in the early 1990s, most notably as a member of Mingus Dynasty.
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Pettiford is frequently cited as one of the founding figures of bebop, and one of the most influential bassists. Pettiford is also credited as a pioneer of the use of cello in modern jazz.
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“I never swung so much or, rather, lived so much in my life.” –Charles Mingus on playing with Elvin Jones
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BIRD LIVES — Celebrating the life and music of Charlie Parker (August 29, 1920–March 12, 1955), Black American alto saxophonist, composer, and landmark musical figure. In his book, Beneath The Underdog, Charles Mingus recalled his first time hearing Charlie Parker in the mid-1940s at Billy Berg’s club in Los Angeles.
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CELEBRATING THE PREZ — Lester Young, Black American tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer. Young—nicknamed “Prez” by Billie Holiday—was born August 27, 1909 and passed away on March 15, 1959. He was an iconic figure in music, fashion, and language, cited as a major cultural influence by musicians and non-musicians alike.
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Called “The Lady with the Million Dollar Ears” by Charlie Parker, Jordan was a bebop vocalist who pioneered the voice-and-bass duo format, inspired by an early experience sitting in with Charles Mingus
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