At the time of this recording, Mingus had been working regularly with the piano-less quartet of Eric Dolphy, Ted Curson and Dannie Richmond. The same group featured on the 1960 Candid release, 'Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus'. The 'Mingus' album, also recorded that year, features one track, 'Stormy Weather', recorded with that same quartet, and two tracks recorded with a larger group featuring piano and additional horns. Of note, 'M D M (Monk Duke & Me)' consumes the majority of this album. The piece consists of three intertwining themes - Duke Ellington's 'Main Stem', Thelonious Monk's 'Straight, No Chaser', and Mingus' 'Fifty First Street Blues.' Released in 1961, and recorded in the fall of 1960 by Candid A&R and Producer Nate Hentoff at the Nola Penthouse Sound Studios.