“Charles Mingus was a pre–Bird musician...in his love of pure emotion as exemplified in the blues, the church, and the polyphony of New Orleans; in his willingness to embrace the full panoply of jazz styles; in his absorption of the colors, styles, subtleties, and charms of Ellington and Tatum. He brought all of that into the modern era with individuality and a startling magnanimity of expression.” (Gary Giddins, Riding On A Blue Note: Jazz and American Pop)