Charles Mingus ‎– The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady

This album is one of a kind and for a number of reasons. It was written as a ballet piece (with some latin influence), the liner notes were done by Mingus's psychotherapist, Dr. Edmund Pollock, the music on here is unique, extreme and beautiful all at once and the fact that it's rated #4 all time on this website proves how much power it has. At the time of its release it received mixed reviews, and I could see why, but now-a-days it has legendary status in the jazz genre.

It took me a while to get use to this album and I remember rating it a 3/5 the first time I heard it but now I like it a lot more. It's hard to describe the music going on during the album but what you'll hear is an orchestra of horns and even Mingus on the piano, which surprised the producer Bob Thiele. Overall it's jazz avante-guard at its best and I wouldn't really recommend it as a first album for new Mingus fans but it's one you'll need in your collection for sure.