[cubson]

I've been on a Jazz tip lately and I'm thinking of buying some Monk and wondering what are some of your favorite albums.

Well, what are they?

 

[DavidMahler]

Im a big fan of his early period on Blue Note. Also check out someone who's very Monkish, but I like better..... Herbie Nichols.... his blue note music is incredible.!

 

[Uncle Erik]

 

[zumaro]

Monk's Music or Brilliant Corners are both beyond great, but most of Monk's pre-Columbia albums are. After that the quality drops a little - the same superb material, but not quite as freshly played.

 

[ronin74]

 

[pdennis]

Easy.

Thelonious In Action, and Misterioso.

These two albums were recorded live at the Five Spot in '58. The personnel: Monk, Johnny Griffin, Ahmed Abdul-Malik and Roy Haynes.

I'm not feeling up to describing what makes these special. They're very dynamic and exciting, there's a cohesiveness to the ensemble, and it just feels "right".

 

[TimJo]

This one is hard to decide on for sure, but probably misterioso because it has my favorite version of In Walked Bud.

 

[tru blu]

I really dig that single disc Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane, because it has a few different looks at Monk: the quartet with Trane, a great sextet reading of "Epistrophy" and his solo-piano version of "Functional."

Probably the best place to start, though, is the two volumes of Genius Of Modern Music on Blue Note.

 

[VicAjax]

i LOVE Monk. in fact, my cat is named after him.

i think his first release for Columbia, Monk's Dream is my favorite. the combo doesn't have the most renowned players ever, but they're all accomplished and, most importantly, they really get Monk's syncopated style and rhythmic idiosyncracies... possibly more than any other group he put together. the playing is superb from top to bottom.

other albums of his i dig: Brilliant Corners, Monk's Music, and Alone in San Francisco (fantastic solo album).

i also have a soft spot in my heart for Monk's Dream, which is an album of big band arrangements for some of his classic numbers. it's not very well-regarded, but it's fun to listen to.

 

[jaduffy007]

Jazz historians / critics /musicians ...the major consensus would be:
1- Brilliant Corners
2- Monk's Music

If you like that stuff, then work into the other Riverside albums as well as his Columbia recordings (for example, "Live At the It Club")

If you just want to hear his compositions...beautifully played...
check out: Walter Davis Jr...In Walked Thelonious

ENJOY!

 

[ssportclay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaduffy007 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Jazz historians / critics /musicians ...the major consensus would be: 1- Brilliant Corners 2- Monk's Music If you like that stuff, then work into the other Riverside albums as well as his Columbia recordings (for example, "Live At the It Club") If you just want to hear his compositions...beautifully played... check out: Walter Davis Jr...In Walked Thelonious ENJOY!

Monk recorded his best work with Riverside Records and Brilliant Corners/Monk's Music are the best places to start.I don't have it but the box set from this company has to be good. Big Band And Quartet In Concert is his very best Columbia recording and beyond this Monk's Dream and Straight,No Chaser are good choices for those who want to explore a little.

 

[VicAjax]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssportclay /img/forum/go_quote.gif Monk recorded his best work with Riverside Records and Brilliant Corners/Monk's Music are the best places to start.I don't have it but the box set from this company has to be good. Big Band And Quartet In Concert is his very best Columbia recording and beyond this Monk's Dream and Straight,No Chaser are good choices for those who want to explore a little.

nahh. Monk's Dream beats Big Band and Quartet for his Columbia releases.

 

[tru blu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssportclay /img/forum/go_quote.gif Monk recorded his best work with Riverside Records and Brilliant Corners/Monk's Music are the best places to start.

I dunno…that Blue Note stuff is awfully strong. And the Blue Notes contain the (no pun intended) blueprint versions of so many compositions Monk revisited for the rest of his career in different lineups. Of course, these things are always subjective.

 

[Know Talent]

I'd start with 'Straight, No Chaser" and if you like that go to "Live at the IT Club" or his work with Coltrane on Riverside Recordings as others have mentioned.

It's all good!

 

[flitflint]

underground!!!!!!

and that one with COltrane, I forget the title.