“Mingus himself is continually evolving as a composer, bassist and leader. I know of no contemporary jazzman so consistently harsh on himself…His relentless drive to excavate his music from the deepest recesses of his feelings and memories comes from the completeness with which he is involved with that music.” – Nat Hentoff, from his liner notes for Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus (Candid LP, 1960)