"Mingus Dynasty" was bassist/composer Charles Mingus' second album for Columbia Records. His first "Mingus Ah Um" was his best selling album and it elevated Mingus out of the Jazz underground. Mingus was on his way. This second album was even more varied and much better programmed. It featured Mingus' working group with John Handy (alto), Booker Ervin (tenor) Jimmy Knepper (trombone) and Dannie Richmond(drums) as hold overs from the first album. The newcomers were Richard Williams (trumpet) and Roland Hanna (piano). That was the working group and on this date Mingus added some non-soloing horns to the mix on several tunes expanding the sound. The compositions are a mix of moods from loose jams to formal compositions and the moods vary from gentle and reflective to boiling and angry and everything in between. One of Mingus' finest recordings! Mingus Dynasty indeed!
