Thelonious Alone in San Francisco

Thelonious Alone in San Francisco Artist: Thelonious Monk
Label: Riverside
Category: Music



Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Format: Original recording remastered
Media: Audio CD


UPC: 025218489324
EAN: 0025218489324
ASIN: B000AA4MKY


Release Date: 2005-08-30

Related Categories:

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Related | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
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Tracks:

  1. Blue Monk
  2. Ruby, My Dear
  3. Round Lights
  4. Everything Happens to Me
  5. You Took the Words Right Out of My Heart
  6. Bluehawk
  7. Pannonica
  8. Remember
  9. There's Danger in Your Eyes, Cherie
  10. Reflections
  11. There's Danger in Your Eyes, Cherie (Take 1) [*]

Similar Items:

  1. Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall
  2. Thelonious Himself
  3. Monk's Music (20 Bit Mastering)
  4. Monk's Dream
  5. Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A fine solo piano recording........2005-10-21

"Thelonious Alone in San Francisco" was Thelonious Monk's third solo piano recording and really like its predecessor ("Thelonious Himself") is a superb record. Monk is recorded at Fugazi Hall in San Francisco (although without an audience) in October of 1959 and runs through ten selections-- six originals and four standards. What makes this recording so special in my mind is that between the odd acoustics of the hall and Monk's playing, the recording has a very "composer at the piano at home" feel to it-- Monk is relaxed, with a delicate touch and avoids almost all of the usual flourishes-- the descending scales, the stride sound, etc. It ends up being a moody and delicate little recording.

Blues are very heavily emphasized throughout-- several blues are played including two originals ("Round Lights" and "Bluehawk") that were never again recording (I suspect they were on-the-spot compositions as the themes are rather brief) and even old standbys like "Ruby, My Dear" and "Pannonica" have a bluesy undercurrent to them. Without the stride sound, the mood is almost lethargic, but the usual Monk guessing game as to how he's going to approach the pieces keep them interesting.

This reissue, like the rest of the Fantasy Jazz K2 issues (in the slip cases) features stunning sound-- a distinct and vast improvement over the previous issues of these recordings that can easily be noticed without audiophile sound systems or a discerning ear. Additionally, one alternate take augments the recordings and the original liner notes essay is included.

This is probably not quite the best solo Monk piece, but its a fine recording deserving of attention. Recommended.

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