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Calling an album "The Essential Thelonious Monk" is a bit misleading, especially since all the material comes from one label: Columbia. Nonetheless, this may arguably be the essential Thelonious Monk material on the label. There are 11 selections here, all recorded between 1962-1968, the period of Monk's tenure with the label. Produced for reissues by the estimable Didier C. Deutsch, Monk's essentials include recordings from all of his settings with the label: solo (the album opens with the stunning rendition of "'Round Midnight" from the Monk Alone album), followed by a live quartet outing of "Bemsha Swing" and a "Blue Monk" from the 1963 Newport Jazz Festival featuring Pee Wee Russell on clarinet. Also included are the various rhythm sections Monk employed, beginning with Charlie Rouse. There's "Rhythm-A-Ning" with John Ore and Frankie Dunlop, "Blue Monk" with Butch Warren and Dunlop, and Larry Gales and Ben Riley on "Misterioso," "Epistrophy," "Straight No Chaser," and "Well You Needn't." Monk's big band is also represented here on "Brilliant Corners," whose members included Conte Candoli, Bob Brookmeyer, Ernie Watts, and Michael Wimberly. In all, the collection is solid in that it features top-notch, unique readings of many of Monk's classic tunes. And, as some have argued, Monk's Columbia period has been underestimated and overlooked; if this is true, these may indeed be the "essential" performances. It hardly matters, though; all of this material -- originally produced by Teo Macero -- is for beginners, a great place to start a Monk collection with its brilliant selection and stellar sound.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
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Teo Macero, Producer - C. Williams, Lyricist - C. Williams, Composer - B. Hanighen, Composer - B. Hanighen, Lyricist - T. Monk, Composer - T. Monk, Lyricist - Thelonious Monk, Piano - Thelonious Monk, Performer
Originally released 1969. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Butch Warren, Bass - Charlie Rouse, Tenor Saxophone - Teo Macero, Producer - D. Best, Composer - D. Best, Lyricist - T. Monk, Composer - T. Monk, Lyricist - Thelonious Monk, Performer - Thelonious Monk, Piano - Frankie Dunlop, Drums
Originally recorded 1963 & released 1983. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Butch Warren, Bass - Charlie Rouse, Tenor Saxophone - Teo Macero, Producer - Pee Wee Russell, Clarinet - T. Monk, Composer - T. Monk, Lyricist - Thelonious Monk, Piano - Thelonious Monk, Performer - Frankie Dunlop, Drums
Originally Released 1964 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Teo Macero, Producer - Charlie Rose, Tenor Saxophone - John Ore, Bass - T. Monk, Composer - T. Monk, Lyricist - Thelonious Monk, Piano - Thelonious Monk, Performer - Frankie Dunlop, Drums
Originally Released 1963 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Charlie Rouse, Tenor Saxophone - Larry Gales, Bass - Teo Macero, Producer - K. Clarke, Composer - K. Clarke, Lyricist - T. Monk, Composer - T. Monk, Lyricist - Thelonious Monk, Piano - Thelonious Monk, Performer - Ben Riley, Drums
Originally recorded 1964 & released 2001. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Charlie Rouse, Tenor Saxophone - Teo Macero, Producer - John Ore, Bass - T. Monk, Composer - T. Monk, Lyricist - Thelonious Monk, Piano - Thelonious Monk, Performer - Frankie Dunlop, Drums
Originally Released 1963 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Charlie Rouse, Tenor Saxophone - Larry Gales, Bass - Teo Macero, Producer - T. Monk, Composer - T. Monk, Lyricist - Thelonious Monk, Piano - Thelonious Monk, Performer - Ben Riley, Drums
Originally recorded 1964 & released 1982. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Robert Brookmeyer, Trumpet - John Guerin, Percussion - Howard Roberts, Guitar - Ernest West, Saxophone - Thelonious Monk, Piano - Thelonious Monk, Performer - Lawrence Gales, Bass - Mike Wimberly, Trombone - Thomas Scott, Saxophone - Charlie Rouse, Saxophone - Robert Bryant, Trumpet - Teo Macero, Producer - Benjamin Riley, Drums - T. Monk, Composer - T. Monk, Lyricist - Ernie Small, Saxophone - Conte Candoli, Trumpet - Frederick Hill, Saxophone - William Byers, Trombone - Gene Cipriano, Saxophone
Originally Released 1968 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Charlie Rouse, Tenor Saxophone - Larry Gales, Bass - Teo Macero, Producer - T. Monk, Composer - T. Monk, Lyricist - Thelonious Monk, Piano - Thelonious Monk, Performer - Ben Riley, Drums
Originally Released 1965 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Teo Macero, Producer - T. Monk, Composer - T. Monk, Lyricist - Thelonious Monk, Piano - Thelonious Monk, Performer
Originally released 1965. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Charlie Rouse, Tenor Saxophone - Larry Gales, Bass - Teo Macero, Producer - T. Monk, Composer - T. Monk, Lyricist - Thelonious Monk, Performer - THELLONIUS MOMK, Piano - Ben Riley, Drums
Originally released 1966. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
Calling an album "The Essential Thelonious Monk" is a bit misleading, especially since all the material comes from one label: Columbia. Nonetheless, this may arguably be the essential Thelonious Monk material on the label. There are 11 selections here, all recorded between 1962-1968, the period of Monk's tenure with the label. Produced for reissues by the estimable Didier C. Deutsch, Monk's essentials include recordings from all of his settings with the label: solo (the album opens with the stunning rendition of "'Round Midnight" from the Monk Alone album), followed by a live quartet outing of "Bemsha Swing" and a "Blue Monk" from the 1963 Newport Jazz Festival featuring Pee Wee Russell on clarinet. Also included are the various rhythm sections Monk employed, beginning with Charlie Rouse. There's "Rhythm-A-Ning" with John Ore and Frankie Dunlop, "Blue Monk" with Butch Warren and Dunlop, and Larry Gales and Ben Riley on "Misterioso," "Epistrophy," "Straight No Chaser," and "Well You Needn't." Monk's big band is also represented here on "Brilliant Corners," whose members included Conte Candoli, Bob Brookmeyer, Ernie Watts, and Michael Wimberly. In all, the collection is solid in that it features top-notch, unique readings of many of Monk's classic tunes. And, as some have argued, Monk's Columbia period has been underestimated and overlooked; if this is true, these may indeed be the "essential" performances. It hardly matters, though; all of this material -- originally produced by Teo Macero -- is for beginners, a great place to start a Monk collection with its brilliant selection and stellar sound.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 01:13:35
- Main artists: Thelonious Monk
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia - Legacy
- Genre: Jazz
Orig.Rec.1964 & Rel.1982, Orig.Rec.1963 & Rel.1983, Orig.Rel.1963,1964,1965,1967,1968,1969 (P) 2003 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
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