-
They Say...
Musicologist/conductor Gunther Schuller discovered and restored this massive, 130-minute work by the late bassist, then presented it in concert in New York in 1989. Scored for 30-piece jazz orchestra, Epitaph is thought by Schuller to have been worked on between 1940 and 1962. Amazingly enough, six of the players specified in the score appear on this recording. Some of the sections are familiar to Charles Mingus fans from small-band recordings, particularly "Better Get It in Your Soul," "Monk, Bunk, & Vice Versa (Osmotin')," and "Peggy's Blue Skylight," and there was an attempt to record this work for United Artists in 1962. Schuller makes a case for this work as a unified, 18-movement work in his extensive notes to this set. There is definite evidence that this is how Mingus himself thought of it as well. There is plenty of great big-band writing here, and some fine soloists, notably Bobby Watson, Randy Brecker, George Adams, and Wynton Marsalis. Schuller says it best in his notes: "This recording, while not the perfect realization of Epitaph -- can that ever be achieved? -- is an enthusiastic, dedicated, loving recreation, which now at last brings Mingus' magnum opus to life." With luck, this release will send people back to his many excellent recordings.
“ The indie iTunes — Hardcore music fans are migrating to eMusic, the iTunes Music Store's cheaper, cooler cousin.”
Rolling Stone
This album includes one or more tracks available only with a full album download.
eMusic Tip
Paid downloads are counted towards an album discount but free downloads are not.
COMPLETE FOR FREE!
You can download the rest of the tracks from this album for free! Just click the Complete Album button.
We’re sorry this album can only be downloaded using paid subscription download credits.
We recommend you Save it for Later by clicking the Save for Later button shown just above this message. For a list of related albums you can download right now, check out these recommendations.
We'll give you 21 additional free credits to download this album and start your paid subscription.
Get 21 bonus credits on us if you download this album. Sweet!
10 Total Tracks, 72:50 Total Length
This album includes one or more tracks available only with a full album download.
eMusic Tip
Paid downloads are counted towards an album discount but free downloads are not.
COMPLETE FOR FREE!
You can download the rest of the tracks from this album for free! Just click the Complete Album button.
We’re sorry this album can only be downloaded using paid subscription download credits.
We recommend you Save it for Later by clicking the Save for Later button shown just above this message. For a list of related albums you can download right now, check out these recommendations.
We'll give you 21 additional free credits to download this album and start your paid subscription.
Get 21 bonus credits on us if you download this album. Sweet!
09 Total Tracks, 54:29 Total Length
Loading...

![]()
Playlists If you like Charles Mingus, check out these member playlists
Credits
- John Abercrombie - Guitar // John Abercrombie - Guitar // John Abercrombie - Guitar // George Adams - Saxophone // George Adams - Sax (Tenor) // Karl Berger - Vibraphone // Karl Berger - Cowbell // Eddie Bert - Trombone // Phil Bodner - Clarinet // Phil Bodner - Horn (English) // Phil Bodner - Oboe // Phil Bodner - Sax (Tenor) // Phil Bodner - ? // Phil Bodner - Double Flute // Urbie Green - Trombone // John Handy - Sax (Alto) // John Handy - Sax (Alto) // John Handy - Doubling Clarinet // John Handy - Doubling Clarinet // John Hicks - Piano // John Hicks - Piano // John Hicks - Piano // John Hicks - ? // John Hicks - ? // John Hicks - ? // Charles Mingus - Bass // Charles Mingus - Bass // Charles Mingus - Bass // Charles Mingus - Bass // Charles Mingus - Bass // Charles Mingus - Bass // Charles Mingus - Bass // Charles Mingus - Bass // Charles Mingus - Bass // Charles Mingus - Bass // Charles Mingus - Bass // Charles Mingus - Main Performer // Charles Mingus - Main Performer // Charles Mingus - Main Performer // Charles Mingus - Main Performer // Charles Mingus - Main Performer // Charles Mingus - Main Performer // Charles Mingus - Main Performer // Charles Mingus - Main Performer // Charles Mingus - Main Performer // Charles Mingus - Main Performer // Charles Mingus - Main Performer // Jerome Richardson - Saxophone // Jerome Richardson - Saxophone // Jerome Richardson - Sax (Alto) // Jerome Richardson - Sax (Alto) // Jerome Richardson - Doubling Clarinet // Jerome Richardson - Doubling Clarinet // Lew Soloff - Trumpet // Jack Walrath - Trumpet // Jack Walrath - Trumpet // Jack Walrath - Trumpet // Bobby Watson - Clarinet // Bobby Watson - Clarinet // Bobby Watson - Clarinet // Bobby Watson - Flute // Bobby Watson - Flute // Bobby Watson - Flute // Bobby Watson - Sax (Alto) // Bobby Watson - Sax (Alto) // Bobby Watson - Sax (Alto) // Bobby Watson - Sax (Soprano) // Bobby Watson - Sax (Soprano) // Bobby Watson - Sax (Soprano) // Bobby Watson - ? // Bobby Watson - ? // Bobby Watson - ? // Bobby Watson - Double Sax // Bobby Watson - Double Sax // Bobby Watson - Double Sax // Reggie Johnson - Bass // Joe Wilder - Trumpet // Victor Lewis - Drums // Gary Smulyan - Sax (Baritone) // Gary Smulyan - Sax (Baritone) // Gary Smulyan - Doubling Clarinet // Gary Smulyan - Doubling Clarinet // David Taylor - Trombone // David Taylor - Trombone (Bass) // Britt Woodman - Trombone // Ed Schuller - Bass // Ed Schuller - Guiro // Randy Brecker - Trumpet // Randy Brecker - Trumpet // Sam Burtis - Trombone // Don Butterfield - Tuba // Daniel Druckman - Percussion // Daniel Druckman - Tumba // Paul Faulise - Trombone // Paul Faulise - Trombone (Bass) // Sir Roland Hanna - Piano // Sir Roland Hanna - Piano // Dale Kleps - Flute // Dale Kleps - Clarinet (Contrabass) // Dale Kleps - ? // Dale Kleps - Doubling Clarinet // Wynton Marsalis - Trumpet // Wynton Marsalis - Trumpet // Wynton Marsalis - Trumpet // Wynton Marsalis - Trumpet // Wynton Marsalis - Trumpet // Wynton Marsalis - Trumpet // Wynton Marsalis - Trumpet // Wynton Marsalis - Trumpet // John McClure - Producer // John McClure - Engineer // John McClure - Editing // John McClure - Mixing // Vladimir Meller - Mastering // Sue Mingus - Producer // Sue Mingus - Photography // Charles Peterson - Photography // Michael Rabinowitz - Bass // Michael Rabinowitz - Bassoon // Michael Rabinowitz - Clarinet (Bass) // Michael Rabinowitz - ? // Michael Rabinowitz - Doubling Clarinet // Roger Rosenberg - Flute // Roger Rosenberg - Piccolo // Roger Rosenberg - Sax (Baritone) // Roger Rosenberg - ? // Roger Rosenberg - Doubling Clarinet // Gunther Schuller - Conductor // Gunther Schuller - Producer // Gunther Schuller - Liner Notes // Gunther Schuller - Editing // Snooky Young - Trumpet // Allen Weinberg - Art Direction // Allen Weinberg - Design // David Gahr - Photography // Andrew Homzy - Liner Notes
-
Other Details
- Instruments:
- Guitar //
- Percussion //
- Piano //
- Trombone //
- Trumpet //
- Bass (Vocal) //
- Clarinet (Bass) //
- Drums //
- Sax (Alto) //
- Sax (Baritone) //
- Sax (Tenor)
Choose from over 7 million
music downloadseMusic features legendary and emerging artists in every genre: classic rock to classical,indie to international, soundtracks to spiritual, jazz to country and many more.
MP3 downloads work on any digital media player
With eMusic, you OWN your music without any restrictions. Burn music to a CD, play it on your computer, mobile phone or any digital media player - including iPod®, Zune® and Walkman®.
Songs available for 50¢ or less
eMusic subscriptions start at just $11.99 a month for 24 downloads - that's just 50¢ per song! And it gets better from there - our plans go as low as 42¢ per song!
Music Discovery
eMusic is about discovery. We make finding new music fun again with music recommendations from our award-winning team of music experts, member playlists and new music features.
Cancel anytime
With all the great music and site features we're pretty sure you will love eMusic. If not, no problem. You can cancel at any time and keep the music you have downloaded.



Post Album to Facebook
