Charles Mingus discusses creating new music.

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Charles Mingus discusses his originality.

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Charles Mingus discusses artistic integrity versus commercial success.

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Q: “You have an incredible amount of integrity about what you want to do – which is why you don’t have a big house like Miles, I guess.”

A: “I know I thought you were supposed to make a lot of money from playing music. I used to study common yoga, you know. It’s still that means after years that you do what you do for the sake ... for God, you play to God. You do for the sake of love. If a bum asks you for some money, I hate to use the bum even, but if someone asks you for some money, you’re not supposed to expect a thanks or some reward. You just do it because the spirit of giving is the reward. It’s the same thing about my music. I'm always thinking of what’s missing, what should they hear? No matter. I know I can play and catch up with the guys who write for Dianna Washington and T-Bone Walker. I used to write rock music, when it was real rock. I can be commercial if I wanted to, but I don’t want to be commercial.”