Summer of Monk

[Milestones]

I am reading Robin D.G. Kelley's Thelonious Monk bio.  This is the longest musician biography I have ever read, but it is certainly worth it.

Naturally, this is leading me to spend most of my summer listening to Monk.  I have not been as systematic as I should be, but I have tried to keep up on records as they are discussed in the book.  Currently, I am at the point where Monk is about to sign with Columbia.

Speaking of Columbia, in the last couple of years I added a lot of Monk from that period, which I had always under-valued.  I'm finding it was ridiculous to avoid this period, as there are plenty of jewels here.

I have always acquired The Unique Thelonious Monk (trio session and second record for Riverside), which is pretty decent.  I guess I never had it before because it contains no Monk compositions.

Quite a bit of Monk I had never had in digital format, but I'm changing that now--such as the Prestige sessions, the Ellington record, and the Five Spot record with Coltrane.

I am curious to know which Monk people find most enjoyable, as well as what stuff they would like to add to their collections.

 

Edited July 2, 2016 by Milestones

[HutchFan]

Milestones, just like you, I overlooked the Columbia recs for a long time. Now, I think they're WONDERFUL -- especially the LPs  "Monk's Dream" and "Criss Cross." 

At some point several years ago, I went on Charlie Rouse bender. So I listened to the Columbia Monk recs with Rouse very carefully and came away loving them.

Don't sleep on the Black Lions either. They're great too.

[jazzbo]

Over the years I've come to rely on the Blue Note material for a quick and intense Monk fix. But all periods are great. .. and I also have a lot of unofficial recordings. I came into Monk through the Columbia years and I can pick almost any one of them and place them in a tray or on a platter and really enjoy myself. I do really like the first two Riversides, and also the Vogue recording.

[Eric]

1 hour ago, HutchFan said:

Milestones, just like you, I overlooked the Columbia recs for a long time. Now, I think they're WONDERFUL -- especially the LPs  "Monk's Dream" and "Criss Cross." 

At some point several years ago, I went on Charlie Rouse bender. So I listened to the Columbia Monk recs with Rouse very carefully and came away loving them.

Don't sleep on the Black Lions either. They're great too.

Another  for "Criss Cross."  I am also a big fan of "It's Monk's Time."

[Milestones]

Criss-Cross is probably the most important of the Columbia records that I don't yet have.

I remember having some of those Black Lion records on cassette.

[jlhoots]

I like most Monk. I've always had a soft spot for Brilliant Corners.

[Milestones]

I think I would go in this order:

Brilliant Corners

Monk's Music

Monk at Town Hall

Monk and Coltrane (studio session, though not really a full session w. Trane)

[Larry Kart]

Blue Note and Prestige Monk, leaning perhaps toward the latter.

[Milestones]

I have to say I really like the Prestige stuff a lot.  It's a shame this period ended so badly, with Monk feeling so disrespected. And this directly led to the fact that there were so few studio recordings of Monk and Coltrane, when there certainly could have been more.

 

[JSngry]

Monk & Sonny, wherever you find it.All of it. Never before, never again, etc. Not even with Trane, nope, not like that.

The Columbia stuff, as a whole, is imo as easy to underestimate as it is to overvalue. Follow you bliss on that stuff, although it should be noted that their big band album is markedly superior to Riverside's, if only because of Thad Jones skeetin' up brilliance with every note and because Steve Lacy, section player.

But avoid the one with Oliver Nelson at all costs. I love Oliver Nelson, but that record is an abomination.

But back to Thad, that 5X Riverside, that one too. Plus, Monk/Sonny At Any Cost gets you to Ernie Henry, and that is a place for one to be, definitely.

[l p]

oslo 1966

 

[BillF]

For all admirers of THEOlonious:

[soulpope]

Depending on my mood (actually love Monk down the line ....), but recently reaknowledged the importance of :

[jlhoots]

Less revered by many, but I also like Monk: Blackhawk.

[soulpope]

2 hours ago, jlhoots said:

Less revered by many, but I also like Monk: Blackhawk.

Featuring my fave Mr. Harold Land ....

[Bluesnik]

18 hours ago, Larry Kart said:

Blue Note and Prestige Monk, leaning perhaps toward the latter.

Same here. I have the Prestige K2 box. Very recommended.

Edited July 3, 2016 by Bluesnik

[HutchFan]

18 hours ago, JSngry said:

But avoid the one with Oliver Nelson at all costs. I love Oliver Nelson, but that record is an abomination.

LOL 

So true.

[Tom 1960]

On ‎7‎/‎2‎/‎2016 at 7:26 PM, Milestones said:

I have to say I really like the Prestige stuff a lot.  It's a shame this period ended so badly, with Monk feeling so disrespected. And this directly led to the fact that there were so few studio recordings of Monk and Coltrane, when there certainly could have been more.

 

Don't forget this one!

[Milestones]

Yes, it's outstanding.

[JSngry]

feels like there' s neither beginning nor end to be found nor to be desired.

 

 

 

[John L]

Having acquired over the years a rather large collection of live Monk (mostly in Europe) from the 60s, I find myself often choosing a random concert from that group for my Monk listening.  One of the great pleasures of Monk is unpredictability, and sometimes I wish that I could listen to the most celebrated albums for the first time again and be completely surprised again.  Since I can't do that, throwing on a random concert that I may have only heard a few times before usually does the trick.   

[Quasimado]

On 2016/7/3 at 1:40 PM, JSngry said:

... But back to Thad, that 5X Riverside, that one too. Plus, Monk/Sonny At Any Cost gets you to Ernie Henry, and that is a place for one to be, definitely.

After "Brilliant Corners" Henry went on the road with Monk to Philly ... that would be the place ... but no tapes exist, it would seem ... Q

[paul secor]

I couldn't begin to make a choice of my favorite Monk. I like different recordings from all periods of his career.

[l p]

5 hours ago, Quasimado said:

After "Brilliant Corners" Henry went on the road with Monk to Philly ... that would be the place ... but no tapes exist, it would seem

a 15 minute fragment of an audience recording turned up several years ago from blue note, philadelphia 11-17-56. from the person who recorded coltrane with candido on the same night.

[Quasimado]

15 hours ago, l p said:

a 15 minute fragment of an audience recording turned up several years ago from blue note, philadelphia 11-17-56. from the person who recorded coltrane with candido on the same night.

Right! And the two? tracks have been appended at the end of the "Geneva Concert 1966" CD with Monk, Rouse etc.

Personnel for the Philly Bluenote tracks of 11-17-56: Monk, Henry, Paul Chambers, Willie Jones. Details here:

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Geneva-Concert-THELONIOUS-QUARTET/dp/B00NGVNKO8

Great find! Many thanks. Q

Edited July 5, 2016 by Quasimado
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