Search - Thelonious Monk :: Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings

Some Historic Playing

Opposite Lock, Ken | Canton, OH United States | 08/30/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Make no mistake, there is some darn fine playing here. All but two of the takes have been previously released on other recordings. The order in which these takes were laid down were, according to Orrin Keepnews the producer, for the most part maintained on this two-disc set. As such, if you are like me and prefer to listen to CDs from start to finish, the repetition can be a bit tedious. So, you may want to burn your own CD with the takes you like in the order you prefer. As an historic preservation of a recording session with these giants laying down music, this is an outstanding piece of history. Not only does it represent the interplay of some of Jazz music's finest, but by stringing the takes back-to-back it also shows how fine improvisation can result in one simple song sounding so different. Yes, there are a few missteps here. Program them out after you listen through the set, or burn your own disc(s) as you like.



If editing is not your thing, get the Original Jazz Classics/Jazzland "Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane" and the aforementioned "Theloniuous Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall." I have all three and am glad I do.



This is a rare window into the working sessions of true music legends and inspired side men. A glimpse of Monk's vision and the empathy of the others to realize those visions. Historic. Revealing. Worth repeated listening.



"

Not first rate tracks

Ralph Glasser MD | Springfield IL | 04/21/2010

(2 out of 5 stars)

"A bit disappointing. Not first rate tracks, these were more practice sessions or jam sessions. Maybe relevant to the enthusiast who wants it all, but definitely NOT for the casual jazz afficionado who wants only the best examples of polished works for his enjoyment."