Leader discography

This is an album-based discography (as opposed to session-based) to Charles Mingus's recordings as leader (sideman discography is also available). Both authorized and unauthorized recordings are listed here among with few unissued private tapes, but information about unauthorized recordings will be moved to "Information" sections of their corresponding authorized releases as soon as they become officially available (e.g. Revenge!). Therefore this 'brief discography' aims at listing every Mingus release (even with minor differences) needed to make a complete collection of Mingus's recorded output as leader (to make a complete collection of every Mingus release is another issue and not dealt with this discography). Information about duplicate releases can be found in the "Information" sections of the releases which I consider to represent the content in the best possible way, usually in the following order:

  1. authorized instead of unauthorized (e.g. "Revenge!")
  2. the most complete package
  3. availability

While this discography is based on CDs, LPs are included if the same material is not available on CD. You might also want to check the syntax, although everything here is pretty self-explanatory. Albums marked with '*' do not exist in separate HTML files.

What's New?

This page was last updated Oct 25, 2007 and some of the modifications include:

June 28, 2004 update: For alternative information you might want to check out the Charles Mingus Discography Project at www.jazzdisco.org, which hosts a session-based Mingus discography. One problem I have with that discography is that it's not annotated and the sources aren't cited (well, I haven't done that always either...) Therefore if you need to be sure with some information, double-check it with some other discography, such as Priestley's on which this site is largely based on.

Index to discography

  1. *unknown titles (1945, unknown)
  2. *Charles 'Baron' Mingus Presents His Symphonic Airs (1946, Fentone)
  3. *The Chill Of Death (1947)
  4. Central Avenue Sounds: Jazz In Los Angeles (1921-1956) (1946/49, Rhino)
  5. West Coast, 1945-49 (Uptown)
  6. The Young Rebel (1946-52, Swingtime) LP
  7. Debut Rarities Volume 4 (1952/53, OJC)
  8. Jazzical Moods (1954, Period)
  9. Jazz Composers Workshop (1954/55, Savoy)
  10. Debut Rarities Volume 2 (1951/53, OJC)
  11. *Newport, Rhode Island (1955, VOA)
  12. [December 23, 1955, Cafe Bohemia, New York City - Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop]
    1. Mingus At The Bohemia (OJC)
    2. Charles Mingus Quintet Plus Max Roach (OJC)
  13. Pithecanthropus Erectus (1956, Atlantic)
  14. *Freebody Park (1956, VOA)
  15. *Cafe Bohemia (1956)
  16. The Clown (1957, Atlantic)
  17. Charles Mingus Trios (1953/57, Jazz Door)
  18. Mingus Three (1957, Roulette)
  19. Debut Rarities Volume 1 (1953/57, OJC)
  20. Tijuana Moods (1957, Bluebird)
  21. *Great River, Long Island (1957, VOA)
  22. East Coasting (1957, Bethlehem)
  23. Debut Rarities Volume 3 (1957, OJC)
  24. A Modern Jazz Symposium Of Music And Poetry (1957, Bethlehem)
  25. The Complete Debut Recordings (1951-58)
  26. *Shadows (1958)
  27. Jazz Portraits - Mingus In Wonderland (1959, Blue Note)
  28. Blues & Roots (1959, Atlantic)
  29. Mingus Ah Um (1959, CBS)
  30. Mingus Dynasty (1959, CBS)
  31. The Complete 1959 Columbia Recordings (1959, Columbia)
  32. Mingus Revisited (1960, Mercury)
  33. Mingus At Antibes (1960, Atlantic)
  34. Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus (1960, Candid)
  35. Mingus (1960, Candid)
  36. Reincarnation Of A Lovebird (1960, Candid)
  37. Mysterious Blues (1960, Candid)
  38. Newport Rebels (1960, Candid)
  39. The Complete Candid Recordings Of Charles Mingus (1960, Mosaic)
  40. Oh Yeah (1961, Atlantic)
  41. Tonight At Noon (1957/1961, Atlantic)
  42. Passions Of A Man: The Complete Atlantic Recordings 1956-1961 (Rhino)
  43. The Complete Town Hall Concert (1962, Blue Note)

    The Birdland Broadcasts 1961-1962

  44. Live At Birdland 1962 (Jazz View)
  45. Vital Savage Horizons (1951/61/62, Alto) LP
  46. In Concert (1962, Jazzman)
  47. Charles Mingus (1962, Musica Jazz) LP

  48. The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady (1963, Impulse!)
  49. Mingus Plays Piano (1963, Impulse!)
  50. Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus (1963, Impulse!)
  51. Cornell 1964 (Blue Note)
  52. Town Hall Concert (1964, OJC)

    European Tour, April 1964

  53. [April 10, 1964, Amsterdam]
    1. In Amsterdam 1964 (DIW)
    2. Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Vol. 1 (Ulysse AROC)
    3. Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Vol. 2 (Ulysse AROC)
  54. [April 12, 1964, Oslo]
    1. Live In Oslo 1964 (JazzUp)
    2. Orange (Moon)
    3. Live In Oslo 1964 - Vol. 1 (Landscape)
    4. Live In Oslo 1964 - Vol. 2 (Landscape)
  55. [April 13, 1964, Stockholm]
    1. Live In Stockholm 1964
    2. Meditations On Integration (Bandstand)
    3. Stockholm 1964 & Antibes 1960 (Impro-Jazz) DVD
  56. [April 14, 1964, Copenhagen]
    1. Astral Weeks (Moon)
    2. Live In Copenhagen 1964 (Landscape)
  57. [April 16, 1964, Bremen]
    1. "Hope so Eric" vol. 1 (Ingo) LP
    2. "Fables of Faubus" vol. 2 (Ingo) LP
    3. "Parkeriana" vol. 3 (Ingo) LP
    4. Live In Europe! (Unique Jazz) LP
  58. [April 17-18, 1964, Salle Wagram, Paris]
    1. Revenge! (Revenge)
    2. Meditation (France's Concert) LP
  59. [April 19, 1964, Theatre des Champs-Elysees, Paris]
    1. The Great Concert Of Charles Mingus (Universal)
  60. [April 26, 1964, Wuppertal]
    1. Mingus In Europe, Volume 1 (Enja)
    2. Mingus In Europe, Vol. 2 (Enja)
  61. [April 28, 1964, Stuttgart]
    1. Live In Stuttgart! 1964 (Unique Jazz)
    2. Mingus In Stuttgart (Unique Jazz) LP

  62. Right Now: Live At The Jazz Workshop (1964, OJC)
  63. Mingus At Monterey (1964, JVC/Fantasy)
  64. My Favorite Quintet (1965, Charles Mingus) LP
  65. Village Gate (1965, Ozone) LP
  66. Charles Mingus Octet Recorded Live At Monterey (1965, East Coasting) EP
  67. Monterey Jazz Festival (1965, Malpaso)
  68. At UCLA 1965 (1965, Jazz Workshop / East Coasting / Sue Mingus Music)
  69. Charles Mingus (1961-1966, Frequenz)
  70. *Lennie's-on-the-Turnpike (1966, soundtrack)
  71. [March 31, 1970, Slug's, New York]
    1. Dizzy Atmosphere - Live At Historic Slug's Vol. 1
    2. Fables Of Faubus - Live At Historic Slug's Vol. 2
  72. Statements (1970, Lotus) LP
  73. [October 28, 1970, Paris, France]
    1. Charles Mingus In Paris 1970 (DIW)
    2. Charlie Mingus Sextet Live (Blu Jazz)
  74. Charles Mingus In Paris: The Complete America Session (1970)
  75. Charles Mingus Sextet in Berlin (1970, Beppo) LP
  76. Curcio/I Giganti del Jazz 2 (1970) LP
  77. Charles Mingus Group With Orchestra (1971, Denon)
  78. Shoes Of The Fisherman's Wife (1959/1971, CBS)
  79. Let My Children Hear Music (1971, CBS)
  80. Charles Mingus And Friends In Concert (1972, CBS)
  81. Newport In New York Jam Session (1972, Cobblestone)
  82. After Hours - The Great Pescara Jam Sessions (1972, Ports' Song)
  83. *Ronnie Scott's (1972, CBS unissued)
  84. In The Kingdom of Glass - Jazz i Glasrike (1972, Jazz på Rällen)
  85. Live In Chateauvallon, 1972 (France's Concert)
  86. Parkeriana (1972, Bandstand)
  87. Blue Skylark (1972, Original Revival Collection)
  88. Mingus Quintet Meets Cat Anderson (1972, Unique Jazz)
  89. Mingus Moves (1973, Atlantic)
  90. Mingus At Carnegie Hall (1974, Atlantic)
  91. Changes One (1974, Atlantic)
  92. Changes Two (1974, Atlantic)
  93. Mingus in Åhus 1975 (1975, Jazz på Rällen)
  94. Live At Montreux 1975 (Montreux Sounds) DVD
  95. Keystone Korner (1976, Jazz Door)
  96. Stormy & Funky Blues (1972-77, Moon)
  97. Three Or Four Shades Of Blues (1977, Atlantic)
  98. Cumbia & Jazz Fusion (1977, Atlantic)
  99. Spain '77 (1977, Excelsior) LP
  100. Final Work (1977, CMA Jazz)
  101. Me, Myself An Eye / Something Like A Bird (1978, Atlantic)
  102. Changes: The Complete 1970s Atlantic Studio Recordings (2023, Atlantic)

    103. Collections and anthologies (without further details)

  103. In A Soulful Mood (1960, Candid)
  104. Great Moments (1963, MCA Impulse!) 2LP
    (Includes both The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady and Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus plus four tracks from Mingus Plays Piano)
  105. The Art Of Charles Mingus (197?, Atlantic) 2LP
  106. Passions Of A Man (1979, Atlantic)
  107. Thirteen Pictures (199?, Atlantic/Rhino)
  108. This Is Jazz #6 (1996, Columbia)

Detailed discography

unknown titles

Info

  1. unknown titles
Personnel
Date and location
ca. early 1945, Los Angeles
Originally issued
unissued.
Comments
This is the first known recording where Mingus was leader. Later, each player of this session often played with Mingus. Spaulding Givens and Mingus even had a duo Strings And Keys, which recorded an album for Debut in April 1951. That was also the first album released by the label found by Mingus and drummer Max Roach.

Baron Mingus Presents His Symphonic Airs

(P) Fentone 2001 Info

  1. God's Portrait
  2. unknown title
Personnel
Date and location
Originally issued
Fentone 2001 (unissued?)
Comments
Jack Chambers's (Jorgen Grunnet Jepsen's) Miles Davis discography states that this session was recorded in August 1946 and claims that Miles Davis participated in this session among other 'identified' personnel: Boots Mussulli (as); Lucky Thompson (ts); Buddy Collette (ts, fl); Herb Carroll (bars); Buzz Wheeler (p); Warren Thompson (d).

The Chill Of Death

(P) Columbia ? Info

  1. The Chill Of Death
  2. unknown titles
Personnel
  1. unknown large orchestra including Buddy Collette, Ted Nash (reeds); Red Callender, Billy Hadnott, Artie Bernstein, Art Shapiro (b); unknown cond; Charles Mingus (narr)
  2. unknown big band including Jimmy Knepper (tb); Charles Mingus (b)
Date and location
Originally issued
unissued

Newport, Rhode Island

(P) Voice of America Info

  1. The Emperor
  2. Sounds Of April
  3. Minor Intrusion
  4. Non-Sectarian
Personnel
Art Farmer (tp); Britt Woodman, Eddie Bert (tb); John LaPorta (as, cl); Teo Macero (ts); Teddy Charles (vib); Mal Waldron (p); Charles Mingus (b); Elvin Jones (d)
Date and location
July 17, 1955, Newport, Rhode Island
Originally issued
unissued ?

Freebody Park

(P) Voice of America Info

  1. Tonight At Noon
  2. Tourist In Manhattan
Personnel
Bill Hardman (tp); Ernie Henry (as); Teo Macero (ts); Mal Waldron (p); Charles Mingus (b); Al Dreares (d)
Date and location
July 5, 1956, Freebody Park, Newport, Rhode Island
Originally issued
unissued ?

Cafe Bohemia

(P) airshot Info

  1. Confirmation (Purple Heart)
  2. Bohemia
  3. Laura
  4. Jump, Monk
Personnel
Date and location
August 18, 1956 (1, 2) and Autumn 1956 (3, 4), Cafe Bohemia, New York City
Originally issued
unissued broadcasts?

Great River, Long Island

(P) Voice of America

  1. Dizzy Moods
  2. Tijuana Table Dance
  3. Woody 'N You (Gillespie)
  4. Haitian Fight Song
Personnel
Date and location
July 20, 1957 (1, 2) and July 21, 1957 (3, 4), Great River, Long Island
Originally issued
unissued?
Comments
3, 4 are bass solos by Mingus (?).

Shadows

(P) soundtrack Info

  1. Nostalgia In Times Square
  2. unknown titles
Personnel
Date and location
Spring 1958, New York City
Originally issued
unissued?
Comments
Remaining music for soundtrack of Shadows by Shafi Hadi.

Lennie's-on-the-Turnpike

(P) soundtrack Info

  1. All The Things You Are (Kern)
  2. Peggy's Blue Skylight
  3. Take The "A" Train (Strayhorn)
  4. Secret Love
  5. Portrait
  6. unknown title
Personnel
Date and location
November 1966, Lennie's-on-the-Turnpike, Peabody, Massachusettes (1-5) and November 21, 1966, Mingus's loft, New York City
Comments
The soundtrack of the film Mingus also includes excerpts from the 1960 recording of "Half-Mast Inhibition", the 1962 Town Hall 'Freedom', and the 1965 UCLA 'Don't Let It Happen Here'.

Ronnie Scott's

(P) CBS (Europe) Info

  1. unknown titles
Personnel
Date and location
August 14 and 15, 1972, Ronnie Scott's, London
Originally issued
unissued.
Comments
Revenge Records has intentions to release this album according to their web site.

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