Mingus by Mingus. From the shabby roadhouses to fabulous estates, from the psychiatric ward of Bellevue to worlds of mysticism and solitude, these are the celebrated, demonic, anguished and, above all, profoundly moving memoirs of the great jazz bassist and compose Charles Mingus. First published in 1971, Beneath the Underdog is a masterpiece of memoir, a riveting insight into one of the giants of twentieth century music

Author Biography

Charles Mingus (1922 - 79) is widely acknowledged as being the most influential and important post-bop bassist to have emerged from the jazz world. Not simply a player, he us also considered to be, along with Ellington, Monk and Jelly Roll Morton, one of the most important and experimental composers in 20th century black music. Prolific output in a career that spanned close on 50 years.