Booker Ervin

More than a simple Mingus alumni (although that's already quite something), Mr Booker Telleferro Ervin II was a hard tenor blower, with a rooted, strong yet sensitive play, also competent on trombone - no wonder why Mingus hired him so often.
His own sessions are of the highest interest, wether for Bethlehem, Savoy, Candid or Prestige, and he ranks amongst the highly underrated musicians of the 60's (although he was successfull as a professional).
This fact may be partly explained by his unfortunately premature death in 1970.

While most people already heard him on Mingus' records, Ervin's Freedom Book (Prestige) is both an excellent starter and a definitive record.