Thelonious Monk

Thelonious Monk – Thelonious Monk Plays Duke Ellington (2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 37:25 minutes | 320 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Trunk Records

Monk’s first recording for the Riverside label, where producers Keepnews and Grauer “thought that Monk’s first LPs would reach a wider audience if he did not record his original music” and accordingly proposed to do an “all-Ellington album” (Robin Kelley, Thelonious Monk, 2009, page 190). Recording dates on July 21st and 27th, 1955 at Van Gelder’s Hackensack studio in New Jersey. Monk with bassist Oscar Pettiford and drummer Kenny Clarke. When Riverside reissued the album in 1958, the title was changed from “Thelonious Monk Plays the Music Of Duke Ellington” to Thelonious Monk Plays Duke Ellington” and the cover art was replaced by Henri Rousseau’s painting “Repast of the Lion.”

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Thelonious Monk – Thelonious Alone In San Francisco (1959/2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 41:07 minutes | 1,81 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Craft Recordings

Thelonious Alone in San Francisco is jazz pianist Thelonious Monk’s third solo album, recorded in 1959. (Piano Solo, aka Solo 1954, recorded in Paris, and Thelonious Himself (1957), were Monk’s previous forays into this form.)

It was recorded in Fugazi Hall, San Francisco, California, on October 21 and 22, 1959, but without an audience present.

“Bluehawk” and “Round Lights” were improvised blues which appeared only in these recorded versions. The other Monk compositions had appeared in prior recordings.

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Thelonious Monk – Thelonious Alone in San Francisco (1959/2011)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 45:09 minutes | 849 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Original Jazz Classics

Among the other aspects of his genius, Thelonious Monk was a brilliant solo pianist, as he proved on two classic unaccompanied recitals for Riverside. This sequel to the acclaimed Thelonious Himself was recorded in 1959 and found Monk in a relaxed mood that led to some of his most thoughtful and moving playing. The program maintains a winning balance among Monk’s classic ballad creations, his blunt blues lines (with debut performances of “Bluehawk” and “Round Lights”), and a selection of pop tunes from his youth including the obscure “There’s Danger in Your Eyes, Cherie”.

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Thelonious Monk – The Complete Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 01:52:16 minutes | 4,21 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Prestige

It’s surprising to hear that since the dawn of the ‘50s, Thelonious Monk already wasn’t a pianist like the others. Or even a musician like the others… With The Complete Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection, we find five 10-Inches made for the label Prestige which have been reunited, restored and remastered from original tapes by Joe Tarantino: Thelonious Monk Trio: Thelonious (1952), Thelonious Monk Quintet Blows For LP, Featuring Sonny Rollins (1953), Thelonious Monk Quintet (1954), Thelonious Monk Plays (1954) and Sonny Rollins and Thelonious Monk (1954). Artistically, Monk was already in his honeymoon period even though this perhaps wasn’t the most joyous time in the musician’s life. The law had confiscated his professional card, forbidding him from playing in clubs in New York. But the contract that Bob Weinstock made him sign with Prestige allowed him to shine during this time in the recording studios. So here we find a musician who’s hungrier than ever before. He’s adventurous too. Not to mention being ahead of the jazz of his time. Already, on a few recordings for Blue Note carried out between the end of the 40s and 1952, Monk went down jazz paths less trodden without ever straying off the route. Here, the whole affair is even more striking. Most of all in the pieces where he is joined by another genius, Sonny Rollins, who also devoted himself to shaking up the rules of a thriving musical genre that was at its most intense and revolutionising age.

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Thelonious Monk – Straight, No Chaser (1967/1996)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:16:03 minutes | 824 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Columbia – Legacy

This is the sixth studio album cut by Thelonious Monk under the production/direction of Teo Macero for Columbia and as such should not be confused with the original motion picture soundtrack to the 1988 film of the same name. The band featured here includes: Monk (piano), Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), Ben Riley (drums), and Larry Gales (bass). This would be the final quartet Monk would assemble to record with in the studio. While far from being somber, this unit retained a mature flavor which would likewise place Monk’s solos in a completely new context. At times, this adaptation presents itself more subtly than others. For instance, Monk’s extended solo in “Locomotive” never reaches beyond itself due in part to the tempo-laden rhythm section. The contrast of styles, however, appreciates the caliber of this particular solo, including an obvious assertion by Monk which leads the band, albeit temporarily, into playing double-time. Other recommended quartet selections on this disc include a liberated version of the title track, which highlights some stellar interaction between Monk and Rouse. The same can be said for “We See,” which features the hardest bop on the album. In addition to the quartet sides, Straight, No Chaser contains two unaccompanied piano solos: “Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea” and “This Is My Story, This Is My Song.” [The original disc only included six performances, half of which were edited due to the stringent time constraints of vinyl; subsequent reissues not only restored all of the previously abridged performances, but also added a trio of sides, two of which (“I Didn’t Know About You: Take 1” and “Green Chimneys”) are issued here for the first time.] – Lindsay Planer

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Thelonious Monk – ‘Round Midnight- Singles (1947-1952) (2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:16:26 minutes | 1,28 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © RevOla

Jazz pianist Thelonious Monk’s first sessions as a bandleader were recorded between 1947 and 1952, and released on Blue Note records as a series of 78 RPM singles. These singles were then compiled in later years—with additional performances from the sessions—into long-playing album formats. As Monk’s reputation and fame grew, the sessions were recompiled again and again into more complete configurations. This article details various releases of these sessions.

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Thelonious Monk – Palo Alto (2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 47:23 minutes | 513 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Legacy Recordings

After the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968, racial tensions across the country rose. Palo Alto, a largely white college town in Cali, wasn’t immune. Danny Scher, a junior at the high school, had a dream to have Thelonious Monk perform and help bring about racial unity the community while raising funds for the International Committee. After many twists and turns, the triumphantly successful concert eventually happened. Now available on CD; Softpak w/ booklet & foldable poster.

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Thelonious Monk – Mønk (Remastered) (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 41:44 minutes | 842 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Gearbox Records

This is a previously unreleased, precious lost treasure from Thelonious Monk’s most critically acclaimed line-up; Charlie Rouse on saxophone, John Ore on double bass, and Frankie Dunlop on drums. The music was recorded live in Copenhagen in 1963 at the peak of Monk’s career. A year later he was to feature on the cover of TIME magazine, one of only four Jazz artists ever to do so.

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Thelonious Monk – Misterioso (Recorded On Tour) (Live) (1965/2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 52:37 minutes | 1,87 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Columbia – Legacy

“Misterioso (Recorded on Tour)” is a live album by Thelonious Monk, released for Columbia Records. It was recorded at various locations on tour.

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Thelonious Monk – Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960 (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:23:47 minutes | 1,45 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Sam Records

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. The package contains the digital booklet with texts, discography, never before seen photographs and memorabilia from the recording session.

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Thelonious Monk – Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960 (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:23:47 minutes | 868 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Sam Records

Filmmaker Roger Vadim had the right idea when he chose Art Blakey and his Jazz Messengers to perform the soundtrack to his modern film adaptation of Liaisons dangereuses by Laclos, and the score from Thelonious Monk is just as impressive. Not for its originality, as it is essentially based on revisitings of the pianist’s own themes. Superbly exhumed by the Sam Records label (Hi-Res 24-Bit sound and wonderful digital booklet), this groundbreaking New York session of 27 July 1959 brought together around the pianist the saxophonists Charlie Rouse and Barney Wilen, the double-bass player Sam Jones and drummer Art Taylor. A pretty magical session in which a fully-relaxed Monk gives free rein to his two tenor players in particular. A real hidden treasure that ought to be discovered at once.

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Thelonious Monk – Hard Bop, 1957 (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 59:26 minutes | 703 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Vintage Recordings

Thelonious Sphere Monk (/θəˈloʊniəs/, October 10, 1917– February 17, 1982) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including “‘Round Midnight”, “Blue Monk”, “Straight, No Chaser”, “Ruby, My Dear”, “In Walked Bud”, and “Well, You Needn’t”. Monk is the second-most-recorded jazz composer after Duke Ellington.

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Thelonious Monk – Genius of Modern Music Volume One (1951/2013)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 36:44 minutes | 780 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Blue Note Records

Originally released as Blue Note BLP 1510

High Resolution Mastering by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering

Genius of Modern Music Volume One is an electrifying compilation highlighting the innovations of Thelonious Monk. The album features early Monk compositions that ultimately transformed into jazz standards. Guest musicians include Art Blakey, Milt Jackson, Gene Ramey, Sahib Shihab, John Simmons, Billy Smith, Shadow Wilson, Danny Quebec West and George Taitt. It includes the classic tunes “Well You Needn’t” and “In Walked Bud.” Genius of Modern Music Volume One is listed on Q’s “Best Jazz Albums of All Time” and Vibe’s “100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century.”

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Thelonious Monk – Genius of Modern Music Vol. Two (1952/2013)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 38:04 minutes | 807 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Blue Note Records

Originally released as Blue Note BLP 1511

High Resolution Mastering by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering

Genius of Modern Music Volume Two is the second installment highlighting Monk’s undeniable genius. This stunning body of work includes the classics “Skippy,” “Let’s Cool One” and “Ask Me Now.” Guest virtuosos include Max Roach, Gene Ramey, Art Blakey, Kenny Dorham, Lou Donaldson, Lucky Thompson and many others. This is an essential document of jazz history.

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Thelonious Monk – Criss-Cross (1963/2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 36:45 minutes | 773 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Columbia – Legacy

„Criss-Cross“, Thelonious Monk’s second album for Columbia Records, features some of the finest work that Monk ever did in the studio with his ’60s trio and quartet. Criss-Cross is a swing-influenced bop album featuring complex melodies and harmonies, Monk’s unique style of stride piano, and his unique ideas on pitch qualities for his improvisations. The title track, “Criss-Cross,” is one of his more critically acclaimed compositions. For this recording, Monk cut out two bars from the original music in order to speed up the overall feel of the piece. It also features Monk’s highly personal use of rhythmic displacement. “Eronel” is a distinctly bop tune that is fast-paced and showcases Monk’s virtuousic stride-style piano playing. The track “Crepuscule with Nellie” was a piece Monk had written for his wife.

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