Thelonious Monk - The Complete Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection (5 CD, 2017) [24-192]

Celebrating 100 years of Thelonious Monk: includes A Collective Personnel Of: Sonny Rollins, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Gary Mapp, Julius Watkins, Percy Heath, Willie Jones, Ray Copeland, Frank Foster, Curly Russell, Tommy Potter And Art Taylor.

Craft Recordings, the Catalog Division of Concord Music, is proud to announce the release of Thelonious Monk's The Complete Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection. The limited-edition album set includes all five of the 10" vinyl LPs which the pianist recorded for the jazz label, spanning 1952 to 1954.

The audio has been carefully restored and remastered by Joe Tarantino from the original analog tapes. Rounding out the collection is a booklet with new liner notes by Robin D. G. Kelley, author of Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original.

These early albums in The Complete Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection offer an intriguing look into this distinctive and resolute artist before he found full acclaim and acceptance, and feature an impressive collective personnel that includes some of jazz's finest. "Listening to these tracks more than sixty years after they were recorded, it's stunning how compelling, modern and original Monk's music still sounds, even through the filter of 21st-century ears," observes the collection's producer, Nick Phillips. "That's the mark of a true musical genius, indeed."

Thelonious Monk - The Riverside Tenor Sessions (7 CD, 1998/FLAC)

 

Despite various reissue formats over several decades, the seven original LPs contained in Thelonious Monk -- The Riverside Tenor Sessions stood perfectly well on their own at the time of initial release and remain among the highest achievements of a truly golden age. Recorded and released between 1956 and 1961, these seven Monk combo albums were critical in Monk's emergence from a decade of ridicule and neglect to his status at the pinnacle of the jazz pantheon. In addition to some of his best recorded piano performances and more than two dozen of his profoundly personal compositions, these albums provide an overview of the era's major tenor saxophonists, with contributions by Sonny Rollins, Coleman Hawkins, John Coltrane, Johnny Griffin, Charlie Rouse and Harold Land. Max Roach, Art Blakely, Roy Haynes and Thad Jones are among the other jazz immortals featured on the essential Brilliant Corners, Monk's Music, Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane, Thelonious in Action, Misterioso, 5 by Monk by 5 and Quartet Plus Two at the Blackhawk. Like the Miles Davis quintet records contained in Analogue Productions' Miles Davis Quintet: The Prestige Recordings, these Monk albums are among the pinnacle of the LP art -- and they have never sounded better.

Thelonious Monk - Les Liaisons Dangereuses (OST 1960 / 2017) [24-96]

The only soundtrack recorded by Thelonious Monk in 1959 to be released for the first time! Contains performances of classic Monk tunes heard in Roger Vadim's 1960 French film Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Features Monk's 1959 all-star band of Charlie Rouse, Sam Jones & Art Taylor, plus special guest saxophonist Barney Wilen. 

• Thelonious Monk - piano
• Charlie Rouse - tenor saxophone
• Barney Wilen - tenor saxophone (1, 2, 8, 11)
• Sam Jones - bass
• Art Taylor - drums

Rec.: Nola Penthouse Sound Studios, 111 W. 57th St., New York City, NY, July 27, 1959.

01. Rhythm-A-Ning (5:47)

02. Crepuscule With Nellie (5:16)

03. Six In One (4:28)

04. Well, You Needn't (4:57)

05. Pannonica (Solo 1) (2:27)

06. Pannonica (Solo 2) (2:55)

07. Pannonica (Quartet) (6:20)

08. Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are (6:57)

09. Light Blue (2:47)

10. By And By (We'll Understand It Better By And By) (1:47)

11. Rhythm-A-Ning (Alternate) (5:36)

12. Crepuscule With Nellie (Take 1) (2:29)

13. Pannonica (45 rpm Master) (6:53)

14. Light Blue (45 rpm Master) (4:09)

15. Well, You Needn't (Unedited) (6:47)

16. Light Blue (Making Of) (14:13)

Thelonious Monk - The Evolution of an Artist (4 CD, 2008/FLAC)

 

Four classic Monk's albums on Evolution series of german BHM label

Blue Note Works 1500 series Vol.1511-1520

 

Blue Note Records is an American jazz record label, owned by Universal Music Group and currently operates in conjunction with Decca Records. Established in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis, it derives its name from the characteristic "blue notes" of jazz and the blues. Originally dedicated to recording traditional jazz and small group swing, from 1947 the label began to switch its attention to modern jazz. While the original company did not itself record many of the pioneers of bebop, significant exceptions are Thelonious Monk, Fats Navarro and Bud Powell.

Many great jazz musicians recorded for Blue Note, but the man responsible for the quality of label’s recordings – their high dynamic and tonal range and lifelike presence – was sound engineer, Rudy Van Gelder. It was his recording equipment, choice and placement of microphones, the work at the mixing desk, the selection and rejection of takes, and the active supervision of the whole recording process from monitoring the dials through to cutting of the master lacquer, that created the “Blue Note sound”.

Van Gelder always sought to be at the forefront of recording technology – the Scully lathe he used for cutting lacquer masters was the first to feature variable pitch/depth control to optimise groove-width and loudness. He deployed the newest Neumann/ Telefunken U-47 condenser microphone, which he had specially modified for use very close to instruments. His recordings were made on the latest Ampex tape recorders.

Blue Note made the switch to 12" LPs late in 1955. The Modern Jazz Series continued with the following 12" LPs. Many of these were issued in both monaural versions (BLP series) and stereo versions (BST 81500 series), sometimes in electronically rechanneled stereo. In certain cases, the stereo versions of recordings from 1957 onwards only appeared many years later. Beginning in 1956 with BLP 1509, Reid Miles designed most of the Blue Note LP covers. The 1500 series has been systematically reissued by Toshiba-EMI in Japan ("Blue Note Works 1500" series, 20-bit 88.2 kHz CDs); the catalog numbers are TOCJ-1501, etc.


BN.1511- Thelonious Monk- 1952- Genius of Modern Music, Volume 2 {RVG Remaster}
BN.1512- Jimmy Smith- 1956- A New Sound, A New Star, Vol.1
BN.1513- Thad Jones- 1956- Detroit-New York Junction {RVG Remaster}
BN.1514- Jimmy Smith- 1956- A New Sound, A New Star, Vol.2
BN.15BN.15- Jutta Hipp- 1956- At the Hickory House Vol.1 {RVG Remaster}
BN.1516- Jutta Hipp- 1956- At the Hickory House Vol.2 {RVG Remaster}
BN.1517- Gil Melle- 1956- Patterns In Jazz (Mono) {RVG Remaster}
BN.1518- Horace Silver- 1955- Horace Silver And The Jazz Messengers {RVG Remaster}
BN.1519- Herbie Nichols- 1956- Herbie Nichols Trio
BN.1520- Horace Silver- 1953- Horace Silver And Spotlight On Drums Art Blakey- Sabu {RVG Remaster}

Blue Note Works 1500 series Vol.1501-1510

  

Blue Note Records is an American jazz record label, owned by Universal Music Group and currently operates in conjunction with Decca Records. Established in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis, it derives its name from the characteristic "blue notes" of jazz and the blues. Originally dedicated to recording traditional jazz and small group swing, from 1947 the label began to switch its attention to modern jazz. While the original company did not itself record many of the pioneers of bebop, significant exceptions are Thelonious Monk, Fats Navarro and Bud Powell.

VA - Interpretations of Monk (w/ Muhal Richard Abrams, Barry Harris, Anthony Davis, Mal Waldron, Don Cherry, Steve Lacy) - 1981 (4 CD, 1994/FLAC)

 Three and a half months before Thelonious Monk died, two memorable tribute concerts took place at Columbia University. The lineup of musicians was perfect: soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy (long an expert on Monk's music), Thelonious' longtime tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse, trombonist Roswell Rudd, trumpeter Don Cherry, bassist Richard Davis, either Ben Riley or Ed Blackwell on drums, and four different pianists. This legendary event was fortunately recorded, and the afternoon concert has been released in full on this 1997 double-CD set. 

Thelonious Monk - Original Album Classics (5 CD, 2007/FLAC)

 

CD1 - Straight, No Chaser (1967)

CD2 - Underground (1968)

CD3 - Criss-Cross (1963)

CD4 - Monk's Dream (1962)

CD5 - Solo Monk (1965)

The Thelonious Monk Quartet - The Complete Columbia Studio Albums (6 CD, 2012/FLAC)

 The Thelonious Monk Quartet: The Complete Columbia Studio Albums brings together the most popular of Monk's recordings of the period, including Monk's Dream (1962), Criss Cross (1962), It's Monk's Time (1964), Monk (1964), Straight, No Chaser (1966) and Underground (1967); albums that found the influential and iconoclastic pianist and composer collaborating with one of the most sympathetic interpreters of his lyrical and thorny music, the tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse. While Monk had been acknowledged by fellow musicians as one of the linchpins of modern jazz, it wasn't until he signed with Columbia Records that he achieved considerable popular recognition. His albums sold widely, his quartet became a considerable live attraction and, amazingly enough, he found himself on the cover of Time Magazine in early 1964. This comprehensive six CD set also boasts a beautifully designed booklet filled with previously unseen photos capturing Monk and his musicians at the historic recording sessions. 

Thelonious Monk - Six Classic Albums, Vol.2 (4 CD, 2012/FLAC)

 EU-only four CD set containing six complete albums from the Jazz great: Brilliant Corner, Thelonious in Action, the Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall, 5 By Monk By 5, Thelonious Alone in San Francisco and Thelonious Himself. 

Thelonious Monk - The Complete Albums Collection 1957- 1961 (5 CD, 2015/FLAC)

 

As the 1950s drew to a close, Monk's relationship with Riverside was beginning to sour over disagreements concerning royalty payments. He would not record another studio album for Riverside after 5 by Monk by 5, and a significant number of live albums followed, which showcased a variety of legendary performances across the USA, France and Italy. In 1962, Monk signed to Columbia Records. Working with producer Teo Macero on his debut for the label, the sessions in the first week of November had a stable line-up that had been with him for two years, Monk's Dream, was released in 1963.

Thelonious Monk - The Complete Albums Collection 1954-57 (5 CD, 2015/FLAC)

Thelonious Sphere Monk was one of the finest pianists and composers in American jazz history. His unique improvisational style made heavy use of dissonances and angular melodic twists, and were consistent with Monk's unorthodox approach to the piano, which combined a highly percussive attack with abrupt, dramatic use of silences and hesitations. Monk is the second-most recorded jazz composer of all time, second only to Duke Ellington, and is one of only five jazz musicians to feature on the front cover of Time magazine.

Thelonious Monk - Eight Classic Albums (4 CD, 2010/ FLAC)

 

Eight classic albums on four discs from great Monk

CD1 - Monk, Monk's Music {76:26}

CD2 - Thelonious Monk Plays the Music of Duke Ellington, The Unique Thelonious Monk {75:46}

CD3 - Mulligan Meets Monk, Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins {75:12}

CD4 - Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk, Thelonious Monk Trio {79:34}

Thelonious Monk – Kind Of Monk [10 CD, 2009/FLAC]

 A boxset featuring 10 of Thelonious Monk's albums.

Most sets in this Kind Of series cluster around the mid-to-late 1950s for the artists who are topics of the sets. This one goes pretty heavy on the mid-to-late 1940s to early 1950s, with some mid-to-late 1950s and some material that was recorded as late as 1967. There is coherence to the composition of the set though. Nearly all of the tracks feature Monk as a leader. This is a departure from other sets in this series where it's a mix of leader and sideman.

CD 01 - Blue Monk

CD 02 - Brilliant Corners

CD 03 - The Gerry Mulligan Sessions

CD 04 - A Duke Eliington Songbook

CD 05 - Quartet & Octet In Europe

CD 06 - Live At The Five Spot Vol. 1

CD 07 - Live At The Five Spot Vol. 2

CD 08 - Epistrophy

CD 09 - Monk's Dream

CD 10 - Almost Solo

Thelonious Monk - Four In One (Quadromania) [4 CD, 2005/FLAC]

  

Unlike some of the Quadromania releases, which tend to group the music together in time order by session, this one jumps around and the details on sourcing are harder to piece together than usual. Furthermore, because Monk was recording in the late 1940s and much of his music initially did not appear on LP, it's hard to give a clean summary of the modern CD's containing the material.

Thelonious Monk - The Columbia Years 1962-1968 [3 CD, 2001/FLAC]

 

While occasionally maligned, Thelonious Monk's '60s recordings for Columbia yielded many moments of warmth and ingenuity. His first two albums for the label, Monk's Dream and Criss-Cross, rank among his very best; the latter demonstrated the company's success in raising his profile, becoming in 1963 his sole LP to place on the pop charts. This three-CD box, like the 2000 collection of Prestige sessions, aims to push Monk's '60s music into the spotlight shared by his Blue Note and Riverside classics. While deviled by a handful of questionable choices, The Columbia Years for the most part succeeds.

Thelonious Monk- The Complete London Collection [3 CD, 1999]

 

 This attractive box houses three previously released Black Lion CDs recorded at pianist/composer Thelonious Monk's final sessions as a leader; only a few dates with the Giants of Jazz were left in the future for Monk, who would soon retire altogether. Heard in unaccompanied  piano solos and in a trio with bassist Al McKibbon and drummer Art Blakey, Monk is in surprisingly exuberant form, still very much at the  peak of his powers. Although most of this music was last available in a "complete" Mosaic LP box set, there are actually three additional alternate takes included in the very enjoyable and somewhat definitive  set. Highlights include "Little Rootie Tootie," "Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland," "Blue Sphere," "Criss Cross," "The Man I Love" and "Evidence," but all 29 selections are well worth hearing. This is essential music for all serious Thelonious Monk collections; the solo performances in particular are quite memorable.