Albert Mangelsdorff (September 5, 1928 – July 25, 2005) was a German jazz trombonist. Working mainly in free jazz, he was an innovator in multiphonics. Mangelsdorff was born in Frankfurt on September 5, 1928. He was given violin lessons as a child and was self-taught on guitar in addition to knowing trombone. His brother, Emil Mangelsdorff, had a jazz record collection, but during the Nazi period Albert’s enthusiasm for the music had to be restrained.

Mangelsdorff made his recording debut in 1952, playing with Hans Koller. In the same decade, he also worked with small groups and the Dance Hesse Radio Orchestra throughout the decade. As the German representative for the Newport Jazz Festival International Band in 1958, he collaborated with the American musicians Gerry Mulligan and Louis Armstrong.