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Genre: Jazz
Release Date: 09/16/2008

Thelonious Himself is a mostly solo set by pianist Thelonious Monk. Monk's hesitant stride and thoughtful yet very unpredictable flights are always a joy to hear. He performs a variety of swing standards (including "April in Paris" and "I'm Getting Sentimental over You"), his blues "Functional," and as a bonus track, there is an alternate take of "'Round Midnight" from the earlier date. The one non-solo track is "Monk's Mood," a ballad that finds Monk joined by tenor saxophonist John Coltrane and bassist Wilbur Ware. The overall results are not quite essential but they should greatly interest Thelonious Monk fans who do not have his huge Riverside box set. [Originally released in 1957, Thelonious Himself was reissued on CD in 1988 and again in 2006. The 2008 "Keepnews Collection" edition features remastered sound by legendary producer Orrin Keepnews as well as an altered track listing and four new bonus tracks.]

~Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

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Wilbur Ware - Bass
John Coltrane - Sax (Tenor)
Jack Higgins - Engineer
Orrin Keepnews - Liner Notes
Orrin Keepnews - Reissue Producer
Orrin Keepnews - Annotation
Orrin Keepnews - Original Album Producer
Orrin Keepnews - Original Liner Notes
Thelonious Monk - Piano
Nick Phillips - Project Supervisor
Joe Tarantino - Remastering
Paul Bacon - Cover Design
Paul Bacon - Cover Production
Lawrence Shustak - Photography
Bob Parent - Photography
Rikka Arnold - Editorial
Steve Schapiro - Photography
Chris Clough - Project Assistant
Albert Roman - Project Assistant
Larissa Collins - Art Direction

Brilliant Corners
    Thelonious Monk / CD / 1956
Bouncing with Bud [Delmark]
    Bud Powell / CD / 1962
Duo
    Kenny Drew / CD / 1973
Jazz at Massey Hall
    The Quintet / CD / 1953
Saxophone Colossus
    Sonny Rollins / CD / 1956
The Hawk Flies High
    Coleman Hawkins / CD / 1957

Release Date: 09/16/2008
Genre: jazz