Rating:
Genre:
Jazz
Release Date: 04/01/2003
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, All Music Guide
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