Renowned for his virtuoso musical ability, his compositional genius and his astonishing body of work, Charles Mingus has left an enduring and revered legacy equal to, if not surpassing, any other jazz musician. A pioneer of double bass and keen practitioner of collective improvisation within his various groups, Mingus enlisted the talents of many up-and-coming musicians, encouraging them to interact with each other in the most unconventional ways. His skills as an arranger brought him much acclaim from his peers, with legendary trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie dubbing him an "organisational genius" and comparing him to a young Duke Ellington. As testament to Mingus' abilities, he produced many groundbreaking albums during his lifetime, a number of which remain counted among the finest jazz records ever made. This boxed set, featuring eight complete albums across four CDs, captures perfectly the genius of Charles Mingus during one of the most exciting and musically adventurous periods of his career. Containing over five hours of music, beautifully remastered from the original recordings, the collection presented here is the ideal starting point for any student of the great man's music and a fitting reminder of his genius for the more seasoned admirer.