Mingus Ah Um, featuring an all-star group including Jimmy Knepper, John Handy, Booker Ervin and Curtis Porter (aka Shafi Hadi), was Charles Mingus’ first LP for Columbia released in 1959. The album is part of the Jean-Pierre Leloir Collection, Leonard Feather gave the 180 gram LP album a five-star rating in Down Beat, stating: “It seems to me that Mingus has now completely found himself, found a personal and vital direction. Mingus has something to say, knows how and through whom to say it, and it is all stated with communicative authority.”