The Unique Thelonious Monk

Artist: Thelonious Monk
Label: Ojc
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 025218606424
EAN: 0025218606424
ASIN: B000000Y3Z

Release Date: 1991-07-01

Related Categories:

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Listmania:

Jazz Piano: Essential and Overlooked
Thelonious: The Monk Runs Deep, His Best in Order (My Picks)
Nice Jazz From 1956
Oscar Pettiford on OJC
Introducing Pettiford
A teenager's first jazz records
Jazz Piano Trio Classics

Tracks:

Liza (All The Clouds'll Roll Away)
Memories Of You
Honeysuckle Rose
Darn That Dream
Tea For Two
You Are Too Beautiful
Just You, Just Me

Similar Items:

The Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall
Thelonious Monk Trio (20 Bit Mastering)
Thelonious Alone in San Francisco
Thelonious Himself
Thelonious in Action: Recorded at the Five Spot Cafe

Customer Reviews:

Great trio work with a unique talent at the keys.......2003-05-28

Great trio work with a unique talent at the keys, but this is tempered by the fact that, while Monk had all those great pioneering original compositions written, when he signed with Riverside in 1955, producer Orrin Keepnews persuaded him to first record standards so he would appear more accessible to the average jazz fan. It's fascinating to here him interpret these well-known tunes in his inimitable way, and this may serve as a low-risk way for a newbie to check out Monk, but it's down the list of critical Monk CD's to begin building a collection with. "Brilliant Corners" or "Monk's Music" are better places to start for those bold enough to sample pure genius. Also, Pettiford and Blakey are excellent but fairly restrained here, as the purpose of this recording was to showcase Monk's playing. Still, if you love Monk and jazz standards, this is pure ear candy.

Excellent Introduction!.......2000-08-09

This is a beautiful set of standards played by the innovative, brilliant Monk. He displays a variety of styles, from the long melodic lines of Bill Evans to some power stylings recalling Mingus. Of course, there's the usual Monk dissonance and tempo variations (and these make even the tired "Tea for Two" sound fresh!), but this effort also shows Monk's strength on straight-ahead jazz as well.

There is a quiet poignancy to Monk's playing of "Darn That Dream," and the Razaf/Blake "Memories of You," but Monk also swings strongly on "Honeysuckle Rose (Razaf, Waller)." He's more boppish on Gershwin's "Liza," with a surprisingly fast interpretation, yet he remains always in control. Superb comping from Oscar Pettiford on bass and Art Blakey on drums on this song especially, and throughout (no surprise there!).

This is really a tremendous CD, highlighting Monk's virtuosity on many jazz piano styles (yet unmistakably "Monkish"). Sound quality is excellent. I recommend this highly both to Monk aficionados and those just getting into his uniquely wonderful style. But please, if you like this one, don't stop here... check out Monk's own compositions on "Genius of Modern Music," "Brilliant Corners," and other CDs available at Amazon!

1955 just comes alive with classic Monk Tunes.......1998-08-23

This recording was origionally released in 1955 and re-released in 1979 by Milestone Records along with "T. Monk Plays Duke Ellington" as "The Riverside Trios". This is aka Riverside #201, the Ellington recordings are Riverside #209. Both recordings complement each and were recorded in the mid fifties and gives new revival to the jazz of that time. A must addition to any jazz collection.

A WONDERFUL INTRODUCTION TO MONK.......1998-08-07

IF YOU'VE NEVER HEARD THELONIOUS BEFORE, THERE ISN'T MUCH BETTER OF A FIRST ALBUM TO GET. THIS IS THE FIRST LP OF HIS I BOUGHT AND I STILL LISTEN TO IT TODAY. THE WHOLE ALBUM HAS A WARM AND INCLUSIVE FEEL TO IT AND SHOWCASES SOME VERY SENSITIVE PLAYING (CHECK OUT THE BALLAD "MEMORIES OF YOU").

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