Ming is the third album by David Murray to be released on the Italian Black Saint label and the first to feature his Octet. It was released in 1980 and features performances by Murray, Henry Threadgill, Olu Dara, Lawrence “Butch” Morris, George Lewis, Anthony Davis, Wilbur Morris and Steve McCall. The Penguin Guide to Jazz selected this album as part of its suggested Core Collection. The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 5 stars stating “His octet was always the perfect setting for tenor saxophonist David Murray, large enough to generate power but not as out of control as many of his big-band performances. Murray contributed all five originals (including “Ming” and “Dewey’s Circle”) and arrangements, and is in superior form on both tenor and bass clarinet. The “backup crew” is also quite notable: altoist Henry Threadgill, trumpeter Olu Dara, cornetist Butch Morris, trombonist George Lewis, pianist Anthony Davis, bassist Wilbur Morris, and drummer Steve McCall. These avant-garde performances (reissued on CD) are often rhythmic enough to reach a slightly larger audience than usual, and the individuality shown by each of these major players is quite impressive. Recommended.”.