Atlantic · in the Kissa Kissa racks

Pithecanthropus Erectus

Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop

Recorded	Jan 30, 1956
Label	Atlantic
Released	1956
Personnel	5 credited players
Discogs	master 176929

The record

A programmatic title track traces the rise and fall of humankind in sound, McLean and Monterose sparring over Waldron's churning piano as Mingus's Jazz Workshop concept takes shape in full. This 1956 Atlantic date marks Mingus stepping fully into composer-bandleader mode, structured freedom over swing-era convention.

Session personnel

Jackie McLean — alto saxophone
Charles Mingus — bass
Willie Jones — drums
Mal Waldron — piano
J.R. Monterose — tenor saxophone

Contemporary reception

No period review located yet. The vintage-press pipeline searches DownBeat, Cash Box, and Billboard for this session.

Pressings

Showing the first pressing, audiophile reissues and copies carrying a collector marker, out of 56 pressings on file.

1956	Atlantic · 1237 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono, Deep Groove earliest on file · deep groove; laminated sleeve
1956	Atlantic · AT. 1237 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono, Deep Groove · deep groove
1956	London Records · LTZM-K 15052 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono, Deep Groove · deep groove; laminated sleeve
1956	Atlantic · 1237 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono, · deep groove; laminated sleeve
1956	London Records · LTZ-K.15052 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
1956	London Records · LTZM-K.15052 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
1960	Atlantic · 1237 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Mono
1963	Atlantic · 1237 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
1963	Atlantic · 1237 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Mono
1965	Atlantic · SMJ-7228 — Vinyl, LP, Album
1965	Atlantic · SMJ-58 — Vinyl, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM · laminated sleeve
1966	Atlantic · 1237 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Repress, Mono
1966	Atlantic · 1237 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Mono
1967	Atlantic · ATL - LP 09034 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue