The Table of Contents

Forewords, iii

            Foreword by Clint Eastwood, v

            An Open Letter to Mingus from Buddy Collette, vi

Introduction, 3

Section I: Mingus Memories, 7

            Mingus Family Background, 9

            Watts Revisited, 11

Memories of Uncle Charles, 13

Section II: Art and Soul of Jazz Portraits, 17

Artist Listing, 18

Charles Mingus – Profile, Portraits, and Reflections, 23

            Buddy Collette: In His Own Words Reflections on Mingus, 27

            Charles McPherson: In His Own Words – Reflections on Mingus, 31

Jazz: The Beginning

            Eubie Blake to Sidney Bechet, 33

From Swing to Bebop           

            Fletcher Henderson to Gerald Wilson, 49

Progressive Jazz

            From Art Blakey to Chet Baker, 115

Fusion and Beyond

            Ornette Coleman to Wynton Marsalis, 181

Epilogue, 221

            Musical Families, 223

            Child Prodigies, 224

            Trail Blazers, 226

            Jazz Geographics, 227

Mingus Family Egg Nog Recipe, 230

Acknowledgements, 231

            Carol Bowie, 231

            Alicia Schooler-Hugg, 231

About the Authors, 232

Credits/References/Bibliography, 233