Monk's less than best is greater than most
Rain Delay | 04/29/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"To clarify comments made about an earlier version of this album:
None of the tracks on "Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane" are live. Not all are in Mono. The sound ranges from Good to Very Good, especially considering these tracks date to 1957. The 2010 re-issue includes a bonus 7th track, "Monk's Mood," recorded a little earlier than tracks 1-6.
There's a Blue Note release of Monk and Coltrane that was recorded live on low-quality equipment, and the sound is terrible. Die-hard fans who want to hear every note their hero played may find lo-fi releases acceptable, but I don't. Don't confuse that Blue Note release with this one---the Jazzland OJC CD has been restored and the sonics are much better.
These tracks may not be Monk's best, but his compositions are profoundly affecting. This release is well worth picking up."