With the exception of a 1972 jam session recorded privately in Pescara, Italy, these are the only existing recordings featuring Charles Mingus and Roy Eldridge together.

Mingus and the celebrated drummer of the Count Basie Orchestra, Jo Jones, had previously recorded together only during a Sonny Stitt "Roost" session in 1953 with the Johnny Richards Orchestra (they never recorded together again after that date in 1960). These are also the only surviving recordings of Mingus playing with pianist Tommy Flanagan. On the other hand, Mingus and Eric Dolphy had a long-standing partnership that was, unfortunately, cut short forever by the saxophonist's unexpected death in 1964.