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Mingus Dynasty
It has been 50 years since Charles Mingus released his landmark albums Blues & Roots and Mingus Ah Um. Mingus Dynasty, an ambitious group devoted to the legendary bassist and composer’s passionate, political and utterly personal compositions, celebrates these landmark albums and classic songs like “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” and “My Jelly Roll Soul.” Drawing on a revolving cast of top-shelf New York players, the seven-piece Dynasty promises the same fierce energy that Mingus demanded from his musicians. In an extremely rare San Francisco appearance, the band is joined by John Handy, saxophonist on these classic Mingus recordings.
"Mingus’s music doesn’t merely deserve to be heard;
jazz needs it."
—The New York Times
One of the seminal books of jazz, Beneath the Underdog is a thrilling autobiographical ride through the scattered genius of Charles Mingus. From his childhood in Watts, California and his feelings about racism, to his sexual exploits, it’s all there in prose as original as his music.