Mingus Ah Um

Charles Mingus

1959

3.69

Rating

Votes

11%

24%

31%

29%

Distribution

Genres: Jazz Styles: Hard Bop, Bop

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Album Summary

Mingus Ah Um is a studio album by American jazz musician Charles Mingus which was released in October 1959 by Columbia Records. It was his first album recorded for Columbia. The title is a corruption of an imaginary Latin declension. It is common for Latin students to memorize Latin adjectives by first saying the masculine nominative (usually ending in "-us"), then the feminine nominative ("-a"), and finally the neuter nominative singular ("-um")—implying a transformation of his name, Mingus, Minga, Mingum. The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013. It was ranked 380 on the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The cover features a painting by S. Neil Fujita.

Reviews

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Length: All Short Long

Feb 27 2026 Author

Good shit good shit good shit good shit good shit 5

Mar 01 2026 Author

Mingus Ah Um is a classic jazz album that was missing in the original list. It's an album full of references to other jazz greats ("Open Letter to Duke", "Bird Calls", "Jelly Roll") and to racial segregation ("Fables of Faubus") and a tribute to gospel ("Better Git It in Your Soul"). Beautiful play by the horns and of course the rhythm section with Mingus himself.

Feb 23 2026 Author

I'd love to write something eloquent about how beautiful this is, but I can't. I lack the talent to do it justice. Amazing stuff.

Feb 23 2026 Author

Over 4 years ago in my notes to Charles Mingus’ “The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady” album I wrote: ‘Rounding this one up to a 4 although I'm hoping some future version of me will want to change it to a 5.’ I should go back and listen to that and determine if this is the future version of me I was hoping for, because I really enjoyed this album and can easily rate this a 5.

Feb 24 2026 Author

Yes one of my top 5 all time jazz albums. A clear omission for the original list.

Feb 24 2026 Author

One of the best jazz albums out there for variety and skill of both players and arrangement. If you are just getting into jazz, this is absolutely one of the first albums to pick up. If not the very first, honestly.

Feb 24 2026 Author

I'm not a jazz head so my opinions are suspect, but I usually like the stuff that is also deemed as important and I liked this. Minus sounds like he could be a grade a prick and the older I get the sicker I get of the narrative of the fiery tempered genius - defects are defects and genius neither explains or excuses it. But I'm not reviewing the artist's personality so hey.

Feb 24 2026 Author

Ah um… I did not have sexual relations with that woman

Feb 25 2026 Author

All time classic jazz artist

Feb 28 2026 Author

More jazz ✅ More Mingus ✅ I am pleased

Mar 03 2026 Author

Nice to see some more jazz on the list, enjoyed Mingus’ unique brand of instrumental chaos on ‘Bird Calls’ especially but there’s so much range on this LP! Soft, loud, bold, meek – there’s dynamic and melodic contrast in spades, and it makes the relatively compact album feel lived in and genuine.

Mar 08 2026 Author

Smooth

Mar 08 2026 Author

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Boogie stop shuffle, Fables of faubus, Jelly roll

Feb 23 2026 Author

Post-bop. Ni fu ni fa.

Feb 25 2026 Author

It's jazz!