Mostly improvised on the spot (Mingus didn't explain the basics of each tune to the musicians until the last minute), Blues and Roots was highly praised during its time, and has since become a true classic.
As a bonus, EJC have added the master takes - and the alternate to the blues - recorded during a rare studio session produced by Mingus in 1957 for one of his favorite sidemen, Shafi Hadi -also featuring Pepper Adams and Dannie Richmond.