Search - Thelonious Monk :: Brilliant Corners (20 Bit Mastering)

Bach's one-uppance and a deserved classic

Kenneth L. Danna | Earth | 02/01/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Thelonius Monk is one of the few musicians to create his own true musical universe, not unlike what Bach did in the 18th century, paving classical music structure in the process. But while Bach's apparent concentration was to maintain a tidy, logical ship, Monk's musical universe consisted of pushing the envelope of the musical consensus to near breaking point on a consistent basis.
Listening to this album, starting with the punishingly beautiful title track (my all-time jazz favorite), you will be challenged with one of the most cerebrally unique in-your-face complex musical statements of all time. Monk was a master juggler of tension, luring you forward, and taking you aback with creative precision. I must have listened to it so many times that I have practically learned every musical nuance of the song (even the improvised solos) and now view it as a classical piece in itself.
The rest of the album follows suit, with "Panonnica" being another particular standout. Every chord change of that song seems to send you further into the twilight, With Monk's Celeste adding a misty taste.
This album is an absolute cure from the conventional. Whenever I get disillusioned which direction the zeitgeist is heading at any particular moment, This album provides a much-needed change of perspective. I bought Monk's 15-CD Complete Riverside Recordings box set, but this album is still his best. Not really for Celine Dion fans, but may be a solution to that and similar afflictions."

Stunning.

Michael Stack | North Chelmsford, MA USA | 10/04/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In 1956, Thelonious Monk was still not widely known. Revered by musicians, his reputation with the public sat on a handful of compositions, a few sideman dates, a bunch of sides for Blue Note and a handful of albums. It was into this that he recorded on his best, 1956's "Brilliant Corners". His first album for Riverside to be by and large a feature for his compositions (only "I Surrender, Dear", a solo piano piece, is a standard, and you wouldn't know it by listening) recorded with a supportive band, this is Monk beginning to peak, and it shows.



One thing that's pretty clear throughout the album is many of the things that make Monk's music what it is-- the fractured rhythms, the bizarre harmonies, that dry swing he mastered. Even the standard he performs is totally enveloped in his sound and concept. The first three cuts feature a band with reedmen Ernie Henry (alto) and Sonny Rollins (tenor), bassist Oscar Pettiford, and drummer Max Roach. From opener "Brilliant Corners", you can see the music is inspirational to the sidemen-- the odd harmony implies a third part, and both Rollins and Roach take remarkably powerful and lyrical solos. The remainder of the session finds the leader in rare form, with a slow, patient and breathtaking solo on blues "Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are".



And speaking of features for the leader, his arrangement of "I Surrender, Dear" is angular, exciting and extremely advanced, even for Monk. The album closes on a slightly different note, the ecstatic and exciting "Bemsha Swing", with trumpeter Clark Terry and bassist Paul Chambers joining Rollins and Roach for what turns out to be a stunning performance.



This edition features breathtaking sound-- this remastering process clearly worked wonders, and includes the original liner notes essay.



As far as essential Monk goes, this piece is one of them, even for those who don't particularly care for Monk, this one is well worth the investment. Highly recommended."

Brilliant Sound

J. Thomas | Out on the Lost Highway | 09/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The K2 remaster of Brilliant Corners is one of the most dynamic sounding CD's I now own. I am not that big a fan of Monk's but bought this on the AMG 5 star rating and the fact that it was out on K2. Most all of the Fantasy Records K2 editions are fabulous sounding. I own most of them. This has to be the best. The music speaks for itself. I find a lot of Monk's stuff sounds the same. He did after all re-record most of his original compositions he did for Blue Note, countless times for other labels. I would give the content a 4 and the sound a 5. AMG was right."