Charles Mingus, The Quintessence: New York-Los Angeles 1947-1960 (Frémeaux, two CDs). This anthology of early and middle-period recordings by the great jazz bassist-composer-troublemaker, released earlier this year in France, is now available in the U.S. Like most of the many releases in Fremeaux’ “Quintessence” series, it’s uncommonly well chosen and quite decently (if concisely) annotated. You couldn’t ask for a better introduction to Mingus’ work (TT).