Charles Mingus was certainly recognized as an individualist, but his legendary status is derived more from his brilliant compositions than from his bass playing. As such, this double CD with 20 tracks falls short of the real
Mingus who the jazz world knew and still reveres. Though his playing is always first rate on a series of standards and bop and hard bop covers, "Haitian Fight Song" and "Love Chant" are his only compositions here that are of major significance in his repertoire. By no means a poor collection, this still gives short shrift to
Mingus as a writer of great modern music.