Rating:
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