Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity.

He was physically large prone to obesity (especially in his later years) and was by all accounts often intimidating and frightening when expressing anger or displeasure. Joni Mitchell sang a version with lyrics that Charles Mingus wrote for the song. In 1971 Mingus taught for a semester at the University at Buffalo The State University of New York as the Slee Professor of Music.

Nearly as well known as his ambitious music was Mingus' often fearsome temperament which earned him the nickname "The Angry Man of Jazz". His refusal to compromise his musical integrity led to many on-stage eruptions exhortations to musicians and dismissals. Charles Mingus Jr.