"In her fascinating book...[t]he author examines many aspects of Mingus' art and influence, from his collaboration with Joni Michel...to [his] dark and twisty recollections of growing up in South Central Los Angeles as a shy, light-skinned son of a tough, Caucasian-looking Army father, and his struggles as a black musician."–Eugene Holley Jr., Downbeat
"In her fascinating book[t]he author examines many aspects of Mingus' art and influence, from his collaboration with Joni Michelto [his] dark and twisty recollections of growing up in South Central Los Angeles as a shy, light-skinned son of a tough, Caucasian-looking Army father, and his struggles as a black musician."–Eugene Holley Jr., Downbeat
"This is a wonderful book, by far the most sophisticated study to date on Mingus, it is both clearly written and a joy to read."–Eric Lewis, Cercles