Charles Mingus discography

As a bandleader, the American jazz bassist Charles Mingus released 51 albums between 1949 and 1977; as a sideman, Mingus appeared on a total of 34 albums. Four albums of his music were released posthumously between 1979 and 1990. Between 1979 and 2015, Sue Mingus produced 19 albums based on his compositions.

Discography as bandleader

List by recording date

Studio albums

Title Label, Release Year Date

(last session)

Notes
Strings and Keys Debut, 1953 April 1, 1951 with Spaulding Givens
Miss Bliss Debut, 1953 October 28, 1953 EP
Jazzical Moods, Volume 1 Period, 1955 December 1, 1954 with John LaPorta; Partially included in The Jazz Experiments of Charlie Mingus (Bethlehem, 1955)
Jazzical Moods, Volume 2 Period, 1955 December 1, 1954 with John LaPorta; Included in The Jazz Experiments of Charlie Mingus (Bethlehem, 1955)
Jazz Composers Workshop Savoy, 1956 January 30, 1955
Pithecanthropus Erectus Atlantic, 1956 January 30, 1956
The Clown Atlantic, 1957 March 12, 1957
Mingus Three Jubilee, 1957 July 9, 1957 a.k.a. Trio
Tijuana Moods RCA, 1962 August 6, 1957
East Coasting Bethlehem, 1957 August 16, 1957
A Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry Bethlehem, 1959 October 1, 1957
Shadows DOL, 2016 November 1, 1958 Movie Soundtrack. Partially re-used for Mingus in Wonderland (United Artists, 1959)
Blues & Roots Atlantic, 1960 February 4, 1959
Mingus Ah Um Columbia, 1959 May 12, 1959
Mingus Dynasty Columbia, 1960 November 13, 1959 Companion album to Mingus Ah Um (Columbia, 1959)
Pre-Bird Mercury, 1961 May 25, 1960 a.k.a. Mingus Revisited
Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus Candid, 1960 October 20, 1960
Newport Rebels Candid, 1961 November 11, 1960 Jazz Artists Guild led by Charles Mingus and Max Roach
Mingus Candid, 1961 November 11, 1960
Mysterious Blues Candid, 1990 November 11, 1960
Reincarnation Of A Love Bird Candid, 1988 November 11, 1960
Oh Yeah Atlantic, 1962 November 6, 1961
Tonight at Noon Atlantic, 1964 November 6, 1961
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Impulse!, 1963 January 20, 1963 Vinyl pressings reissued by Universal Music Group in collaboration with Chad Kassem's Analogue Productions[1]
Mingus Plays Piano Impulse!, 1964 July 30, 1963
Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Impulse!, 1964 September 20, 1963 Vinyl pressings reissued by Universal Music Group in collaboration with Chad Kassem's Analogue Productions[1]
Blue Bird America, 1971 October 31, 1970 Included in Charles Mingus in Paris: The Complete America Session (Sunnyside, 2006)
Pithycanthropus Erectus America, 1971 October 31, 1970 Included in Charles Mingus in Paris: The Complete America Session (Sunnyside, 2006)
Charles Mingus with Orchestra Columbia, 1971 January 14, 1971
Let My Children Hear Music Columbia, 1972 November 18, 1971
Mingus Moves Atlantic, 1974 October 31, 1973
Changes One Atlantic, 1975 December 30, 1974
Changes Two Atlantic, 1975 December 30, 1974
Cumbia & Jazz Fusion Atlantic, 1978 March 10, 1977
Three or Four Shades of Blues Atlantic, 1977 March 29, 1977
Lionel Hampton Presents Charles Mingus Who's Who in Jazz, 1977 November 6, 1977 a.k.a. His Final Work


Live albums

Title Label, Release Year Date

(last session)

Notes
Mingus at the Bohemia Debut, 1956 December 23, 1955 a.k.a. Chazz!
The Charles Mingus Quintet & Max Roach Fantasy, 1963 December 23, 1955
Jazz Portraits: Mingus in Wonderland United Artists, 1959 January 16, 1959
Mingus at Antibes Atlantic, 1976 July 13, 1960 a.k.a. Charles Mingus Live With Eric Dolphy
Town Hall Concert United Artists, 1962 October 12, 1962 Expanded in The Complete Town Hall Concert (Blue Note, 1994)
Cornell 1964 Blue Note, 2007 March 18, 1964 with Eric Dolphy
Town Hall Concert Jazz Workshop, 1964 April 4, 1964 Expanded in The Jazz Workshop Concerts 1964-65 (Mosaic, 2012)
Concertgebouw Amsterdam Vol. 1 Ulysse Musique, 1985 April 10, 1964 Included in The Jazz Workshop Concerts 1964-65 (Mosaic, 2012) and In Amsterdam 1964 (DIW, 1989)
Concertgebouw Amsterdam Vol. 2 Ulysse Musique, 1986 April 10, 1964 Included in The Jazz Workshop Concerts 1964-65 (Mosaic, 2012) and In Amsterdam 1964 (DIW, 1989)
Live In Oslo 1964 Polydor, 1990 April 12, 1964
Revenge! The Legendary Paris Concerts Revenge, 1996 April 17, 1964
The Great Concert of Charles Mingus America, 1971 April 19, 1964
Mingus in Europe Volume I Enja, 1979 April 26, 1964
Mingus in Europe Volume II Enja, 1981 April 26, 1964
Right Now: Live at the Jazz Workshop Fantasy, 1966 June 3, 1964
Mingus at Monterey Jazz Workshop, 1965 September 20, 1964 Included in The Jazz Workshop Concerts 1964-65 (Mosaic, 2012)
My Favorite Quintet Jazz Workshop, 1966 May 13, 1965 Expanded in The Jazz Workshop Concerts 1964-65 (Mosaic, 2012)
Music Written For Monterey 1965 Jazz Workshop, 1966 September 25, 1965
In Paris 1970 Ulysse Musique, 1988 October 28, 1970
Charles Mingus and Friends in Concert Columbia, 1973 February 4, 1972
The Lost Album From Ronnie Scott's Resonance, 2022 August 15, 1972
Live In Chateauvallon, 1972 France's Concert, 1989 August 22, 1972
Jazz In Detroit / Strata Concert Gallery / 46 Selden BBE, 2018 February 13, 1973
Mingus at Carnegie Hall Atlantic, 1974 January 19, 1974
@ Bremen 1964 & 1975 Sunnyside, 2020 July 9, 1975
Live at Montreaux Eagle Rock, 2018 July 20, 1975

Final works as composer

Title Label Date

(last session)

Recording Notes
Me, Myself an Eye Atlantic, 1979 January 23, 1978 Studio Sessions directed by Charles Mingus
Something Like a Bird Atlantic, 1980 January 23, 1978 Studio Sessions directed by Charles Mingus
Mingus Asylum, 1979 1978 Studio Joni Mitchell album co-written with Charles Mingus
Epitaph Columbia, 1989 June 3, 1989 Studio Unpublished work written between 1940 and 1962

Discography as sideman

Title Label Date

(last session)

Recording Bandleader
Penny's Worth Of Boogie / Look What You've Done To Me Globe, 1945 1945 Studio Russell Jacquet
Blues In B Flat / Deep Meditation Modern Music, 1945 May 1, 1945 Studio Hadda Brooks, Howard McGhee
Rex Stewart Plays Duke Ellington/Illinois Jacquet And His All-Stars Play Uptown Jazz Grand Award,  1955 August 2, 1945 Studio Rex Stewart, Illinois Jacquet
Jacquet Mood / Robbins' Nest Apollo, 1947 August 2, 1945 Studio Illinois Jacquet
You Go To My Head / Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying Golden Guinea, 1945 October 4, 1945 Studio Ernie Andrews
Paradise Lost / I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance Golden Guinea, 1945 October 4, 1945 Studio Ernie Andrews
Voot Rhythm / Baggin The Boogie Bel Tone, 1945 November 1, 1945 Studio Bob Mosely
Stormy Mood / Bee Boogie Boo Bel Tone, 1945 November 1, 1945 Studio Bob Mosely
Mellow Mama Delmark, 1992 December 13, 1945 Studio Dinah Washington
Dinah Washington Sings The Blues Grand Award, 1955 December 13, 1945 Studio Dinah Washington
Hoggin' / Blues A La King Melodisc, 1946 1946 Studio Howard McGhee
Sweet Potato / Night Mist Melodisc, 1946 1946 Studio Howard McGhee
Riff G.M. / Is It A Sin Clear Tone, 1946 1946 Studio Gene Morris
G-Ing With Gene / Laughing At Life Clear Tone, 1946 1946 Studio Gene Morris
Hot Piano Tops, 1946 January 1, 1946 Studio Wilbert Baranco
I Thought You Ought To Know / The Voot Is Here To Stay Black & White, 1946 January 1, 1946 Studio Ivie Anderson and her All Stars
I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good / On The Sunny Side Of The Street Black & White, 1946 January 1, 1946 Studio Ivie Anderson and her All Stars
Lena and Ivie Jazztone, 1957 January 1, 1946 Studio Lena Horne, Ivie Anderson
Night And Day / Weeping Willie Black & White, 1946 January 1, 1946 Studio Wilbert Baranco
Every Time I Think Of You / Baranco Boogie Black & White, 1946 January 1, 1946 Studio Wilbert Baranco
After Hours / Pipe Dream 4 Star, 1946 April 26, 1946 Studio Lady Will Carr
Hamp's Golden Favorites Decca, 1962 November 10, 1947 Studio Lionel Hampton
Lionel Hampton in Concert Cicala Jazz, 1948 May 1, 1948 Studio Lionel Hampton
Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra 1948 Weka, 1948 August 11, 1948 Studio Lionel Hampton
The Red Norvo Trio Discovery, 1951 May 3, 1950 Studio Red Norvo, Tal Farlow
Move

- aka The Charlie Mingus Trio With Tal Farlow, Red Norvo

Savoy, 1951 April 13, 1951 Studio Red Norvo
Midnight on Cloud 69 Savoy, 1956 April 13, 1951 Studio Various Artists
Birdland 1951 Blue Note, 2004 September 29, 1951 Live Miles Davis
Jazz At Storyville Roost, 1952 November 6, 1951 Studio Billy Taylor
While I'm Gone / I'll Be There King, 1952 December 18, 1951 Studio Melvin Moore
Possessed / Hold Me, Kiss Me, Squeeze Me King, 1952 December 18, 1951 Studio Melvin Moore
From Barrelhouse To Bop Perspective, 1953 1952 Studio John Mehegan
Big Band Clef, 1954 March 25, 1952 Studio Charlie Parker
The George Wallington Trios Prestige, 1952 September 4, 1952 Studio George Wallington
The Happy "Bird" Charlie Parker, 1961 December 12, 1952 Studio Charlie Parker
1953 Spring Sessions: Broadcast Performances

- aka In March with Mingus

ESP-Disk', 1953 March 21, 1953 Studio Bud Powell
Spring Broadcasts 1953 ESP, 1977 March 21, 1953 Live Bud Powell
Inner Fires Electra/Musician, 1953 April 5, 1953 Studio Bud Powell
Dance Of The Infidels S.C.A.M., 1953 May 1, 1953 Live Charlie Parker
Jazz At Massey Hall

- aka The Greatest Jazz Concert Ever

Debut, 1956 May 15, 1953 Live The Quintet
Blue Moods- aka Miles Davis Quartet Prestige, 1954 May 19, 1953 Studio Miles Davis
The Magnificent Charlie Parker Clef, 1955 May 25, 1953 Studio Charlie Parker
Jazz Perennial: The Genius Of Charlie Parker #7 Verve, 1959 May 25, 1953 Studio Charlie Parker
1953 Summer Sessions: Broadcast Performances ESP-Disk', 1953 May 30, 1953 Studio Bud Powell
Jazz Workshop, Volume One: Trombone Rapport Debut, 1953 September 18, 1953 Studio Various Artists
Jazz Workshop, Volume Two Debut, 1955 September 18, 1953 Studio Various Artists
Four Trombones Debut, 1957 September 18, 1953 Studio Various Artists
Introducing Paul Bley Debut, 1954 November 30, 1953 Studio Paul Bley
Explorations Debut, 1953 December 12, 1953 Studio Teo Macero
The New Oscar Pettiford Sextet

- aka My Little Cello

Debut, 1953 December 29, 1953 Studio Oscar Pettiford
Jazz Workshop Volume Three Debut, 1955 June 27, 1954 Studio Ada Moore
Mad Bebop Savoy, 1978 August 26, 1954 Studio Jay Jay Johnson
Jay & Kai Savoy, 1955 August 26, 1954 Studio Jay Jay Johnson, Kai Winding
The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson Volume 1 Blue Note, 1955 September 24, 1954 Studio Jay Jay Johnson
The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson Volume 2 Blue Note, 1955 September 24, 1954 Studio Jay Jay Johnson
Organ...Sweet N' Swing Regent, 1956 November 9, 1954 Studio Vin Strong
Heart Strings / Swingin' The Mambo Savoy, 1955 November 9, 1954 Studio Vin Strong
The John Mehegan Trio/Quartet Savoy, 1955 January 3, 1955 Studio John Mehegan
Evolution Prestige, 1955 January 6, 1955 Studio Teddy Charles
Relaxed Piano Moods Debut, 1955 January 21, 1955 Studio Hazel Scott
Very Truly Yours Savoy, 1955 February 5, 1955 Studio Jimmy Scott
New Piano Expressions Debut, 1955 March 1, 1955 Studio John Dennis
The Fabulous Thad Jones

- aka Jazz Collaborations, Vol. I

Debut, 1955 March 10, 1955 Studio Thad Jones
Easy Jazz London, 1955 May 27, 1955 Studio Ralph Sharon
Blue Moods Debut, 1955 July 9, 1955 Studio Miles Davis
Blame It On My Youth Epic, 1956 1956 Studio Don Heller
Metronome All-Stars 1956 Clef, 1956 June 18, 1956 Studio Various Artists
This Is How I Feel About Jazz ABC, 1957 September 19, 1956 Studio Quincy Jones
Word from Bird Atlantic, 1956 November 12, 1956 Studio Teddy Charles
Modern Jazz Concert

- aka Brandeis Jazz Festival

Columbia, 1958 June 18, 1957 Live Six compositions commissioned by the 1957 Brandeis University Festival of the Arts
New Faces Debut, 1957 July 10, 1957 Studio Jimmy Knepper
The Weary Blues With Langston Hughes MGM, 1959 March 18, 1958 Studio Langston Hughes
The Jazz Life! Candid, 1960 January 13, 1961 Studio Various Artists
All Night Long Fontana, 1962 July 1, 1961 Studio Philip Green
Summit Sessions Columbia, 1970 July 3, 1961 Studio Dave Brubeck
Money Jungle Blue Note, 1962 September 17, 1962 Studio Duke Ellington
Newport In New York '72 - The Jam Sessions Vols. 1 & 2 Cobblestone, 1972 July 6, 1972 Studio Various Artists
After Hours - The Great Pescara Jam Sessions Port's Song, 1975 July 30, 1972 Studio Various Artists

Compilations

Title Label Contents
Mingus Featuring: Eric Dolphy - The Candid Recordings Barnaby, 1972
The Greatest Jazz Concert Ever Prestige, 1973
Reevaluation: The Impulse Years Impulse!, 1973
The Art Of Charles Mingus (The Atlantic Years) Atlantic, 1973
Nostalgia In Times Square Columbia, 1979 New edits and unreleased takes of Mingus Ah Um, Mingus Dynasty
Passions Of A Man: An Anthology Of His Atlantic Recordings Atlantic, 1979
The Complete Candid Recordings Of Charles Mingus Mosaic, 1985
The Young Rebel Swingtime, 1986
The Rarest On Debut - Charles Mingus Sideman Debut, 1987
The Rarest On Debut - Mingus Newly Discovered Debut, 1987
The Rarest On Debut Debut, 1987
In Amsterdam 1964 DIW, 1989 Concertgebouw Amsterdam Vol. 1 (Ulysse Musique, 1985), Concertgebouw Amsterdam Vol. 2 (Ulysse Musique, 1986)
The Complete Debut Recordings Debut, 1990
Debut Rarities, Volume 1 Original Jazz Classics, 1992
Debut Rarities, Volume 2 Original Jazz Classics, 1992
Original Faubus Fables All That's Jazz, 1992
Debut Rarities, Volume 3 Original Jazz Classics, 1993
The Complete 1959 CBS Charles Mingus Sessions Mosaic, 1993
Thirteen Pictures: The Charles Mingus Anthology Rhino, 1993
Debut Rarities, Volume 4 Original Jazz Classics, 1994
Fables Of Faubus Giants Of Jazz, 1996
Passions Of A Man: The Complete Atlantic Recordings 1956-1961 Rhino Records, 1997 Pithecanthropus Erectus (Atlantic, 1956), Word From Bird (Atlantic, 1958), The Clown (Atlantic, 1957), Tonight At Noon (Atlantic, 1964), Blues & Roots (Atlantic, 1960), Mingus At Antibes (Atlantic, 1976), Oh Yeah (Atlantic, 1962)
Alternate Takes Columbia, 1998
West Coast 1945-49 Uptown, 2000
Ken Burns Jazz Columbia, 2000
Charles Mingus Trilogy (The Complete Bethlehem Jazz Collection) Avenue Jazz, 2001 The Jazz Experiments Of Charlie Mingus (Bethlehem, 1955), A Modern Jazz Symposium Of Music And Poetry (Bethlehem, 1959), East Coasting (Bethlehem, 1957)
80th Birthday Celebration Debut, 2002
The Young Rebel Proper, 2004
Minor Intrusion Quadromania, 2005
Charles Mingus & Booker Ervin - The Savoy Recordings Brilliant Jazz, 2006
Charles Mingus in Paris: The Complete America Session Sunnyside, 2006 Blue Bird (America, 1971), Pithycanthropus Erectus (America, 1971) plus extra takes
Take The 'A' Train Back Up, 2006
Jazz Workshop 1957-1958 Fresh Sound Records, 2009
The Clown / Intrusion / Pithecanthropus Erectus Delta, 2009
Charles Mingus And The Newport Rebels Candid, 2010
The Complete Columbia & RCA Albums Collection Sony Music, 2012
The Jazz Workshop Concerts 1964-65 Mosaic, 2012 Town Hall Concert (Jazz Workshop, 1964), Concertgebouw Amsterdam Vol. 1 (Ulysse Musique, 1985), Concertgebouw Amsterdam Vol. 2 (Ulysse Musique, 1986), Mingus at Monterey (Jazz Workshop, 1965), My Favorite Quintet (Jazz Workshop, 1966)
Leader On Debut Debut, 2013
The Quintessence New-York - Los Angeles 1947 - 1960 Frémeaux & Associés, 2013
Mingus Moods Proper Box, 2014
Mingus The Impulse Albums Impulse!, 2014
Live In Europe 1975 Salvo, 2015
Complete Live At The Bohemia Essential Jazz Classics, 2017
Milestones Of A Legend Documents, 2017
The Eldridge Session Doxy, 2017
Candid Recordings ·Part One Doxy, 2018
Candid Recordings ·Part Two Doxy, 2018
Newport Rebels Jazz Images, 2018
The Rare Albums Collection Enlightenment, 2019

Mingus Bands

Further information: Mingus Big Band and Mingus Dynasty (band)
Title Label Date

(last session)

Recording Band
Chair In The Sky Elektra, 1979 July 10,1979 Studio Mingus Dynasty
Live At Montreux Atlantic, 1981 July 18, 1980 Live Mingus Dynasty
Mingus' Sounds Of Love Soul Note, 1988 September 30, 1987 Studio Mingus Dynasty
Live At The Village Vanguard Storyville, 1989 May 27, 1984 Live Mingus Dynasty
Live At The Theatre Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris Vol. 1 Soul Note, 1989 June 8, 1988 Live Mingus Dynasty
Next Generation Performs Charles Mingus Brand New Compositions Columbia, 1991 Studio Mingus Dynasty
Weird Nightmare (Meditations On Mingus) Columbia, 1992 Studio Various Artists
Live At The Theatre Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris Vol. 2 Soul Note, 1993 June 8, 1988 Live Mingus Dynasty
Nostalgia In Times Square Dreyfus Jazz, 1993 March 2, 1993 Live Mingus Big Band
At the Bottom Line West Wind, 1995 December 1, 1979 Live Mingus Dynasty
Reincarnation Soul Note, 1997 April 1, 1982 Studio Mingus Dynasty
Gunslinging Birds Dreyfus Jazz, 1995 1995 Studio Mingus Big Band
Live In Time Dreyfus Jazz, 1996 1996 Studio Mingus Big Band
¡Que Viva Mingus! Dreyfus Jazz, 1997 1997 Studio Mingus Big Band
Blues & Politics Dreyfus Jazz, 1999 January 26, 1999 Studio Mingus Big Band
Tonight At Noon... Three Or Four Shades Of Love Dreyfus Jazz, 2002 December 7, 2001 Studio Mingus Big Band
I Am Three Sunnyside, 2005 November 7, 2004 Studio Mingus Big Band
Live In Tokyo Sunnyside, 2006 December 31, 2005 Live Mingus Big Band
Live At Jazz Standard Jazz Workshop, 2010 December 31, 2009 Live Mingus Big Band
Mingus Sings Sunnyside, 2015 2015 Studio Mingus Big Band

References

  1. ^ a b Kaplan, Fred (February 2022). "Mingus". Stereophile. Retrieved 2024-11-30 – via EBSCOhost.