CD-Charts Position 1

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Brilliant Corners [Keepnews Collection]

by: Thelonious Monk

Release Date June 09, 2008

CD-Charts Position 2
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Straight No Chaser

by: Thelonious Monk

Release Date September 02, 1996
A truely outstanding album from start to finnish. Many catchy tunes with the incredible talent of Thelonious Monk (Piano). This album goes from strength to strength. Highly recommended from Jazz fans looking to start their collection. Overall it is an excellent album performed by real professionals. A must have for anyone who calls themself a Jazz fan.

CD-Charts Position 3
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Genius of Modern Music Vol.1: Remastered

by: Thelonious Monk

Release Date August 13, 2001
This first volume of recordings is an essential purchase for any Jazz fan capturing Thelonious Monk in the very early days of be-bop, playing many of his most famous tunes.

Recorded in October and November 1947 in New York City, the album features the following musicians:
Thelonious Monk - Piano
Art Blakey - drums,
Gene Ramey, Bob Paige - bass
Idrees Sulieman, George Tait - Trumpet
Danny Quebec West, Sahib Shihab - Alto Sax

Baring mind the age of the recordings the sound quality is remarkably good and of course Monks distinctive compositions and playing dominate proceedings. Of the non-Monk tunes perhaps the best are his versions of Gershwins "Nice Work..." which he takes to another ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
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Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall

by: Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane

Release Date
There is nothing more to say on the musical genius or the African American roots of this pairing - that has all been said by the other reviews. This is a recording that was lost for almost 50 years and which has given us all a wonderful gift of music that can only be understood by hearing it and then breathing in the depth of the music. The sounds produced here are not from 1957 they are timeless, the music and the beat will always go on and Monk and Coltrane will live forever with this recording. I sure as heck wish I was there when they played Carnegie Hall that night.....

CD-Charts Position 5
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Genius of Modern Music Vol.2: Remastered

by: Thelonious Monk

Release Date August 13, 2001
'Volume 2' is just as good as its predecessor- taking in seminal cuts & alternate takes- and providing us with an insight into the genius of Thelonious Monk...Both volumes, attractively priced & remastered, should be owned. After several listens these tracks will seep into your being & you could not imagine living without them...And the repetition of tracks does work- giving you a handle on the complexities of these songs- 'Four in One' (tracks 1 & 2) are the same song with subtle,cataclysmic differences...The often compiled 'Straight no Chaser' & my personal fave 'Let's Cool One' are standouts...This is the perfect album to chill to, fantastic Sunday morning music next to 'Kind of Blue', 'In a Silent Way', 'Laughing Stock', 'Tupelo Honey', ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
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Monk's Dream

by: Thelonious Monk

Release Date September 02, 2002
This was pianist Thelonious Monk's first album for the Columbia label; it was made between October 31st and November 6th in '62. 'Body And Soul' and 'Just A Gigolo' are unaccompanied piano solos by Monk. The remainder of the tracks feature him in a quartet with Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), John Ore (bass) and Frankie Dunlop (drums). Rouse sounds a bit relentless at times, but never quite monotonous. Dunlop's bouncy drumming is a joy to listen to, and Monk himself is on good quirky form. These are studio recordings, the sound quality is excellent and the playing time is 73 minutes. A very attractive item - bewitching even.

CD-Charts Position 7
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Big Band and Quartet in Concert

by: Thelonious Monk

Release Date February 01, 2008
This was pianist Thelonious Monk's first album for the Columbia label; it was made between October 31st and November 6th in '62. 'Body And Soul' and 'Just A Gigolo' are unaccompanied piano solos by Monk. The remainder of the tracks feature him in a quartet with Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), John Ore (bass) and Frankie Dunlop (drums). Rouse sounds a bit relentless at times, but never quite monotonous. Dunlop's bouncy drumming is a joy to listen to, and Monk himself is on good quirky form. These are studio recordings, the sound quality is excellent and the playing time is 73 minutes. A very attractive item - bewitching even.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

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Monk's Music

by: Thelonious Monk

Release Date November 10, 2006
This was pianist Thelonious Monk's first album for the Columbia label; it was made between October 31st and November 6th in '62. 'Body And Soul' and 'Just A Gigolo' are unaccompanied piano solos by Monk. The remainder of the tracks feature him in a quartet with Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), John Ore (bass) and Frankie Dunlop (drums). Rouse sounds a bit relentless at times, but never quite monotonous. Dunlop's bouncy drumming is a joy to listen to, and Monk himself is on good quirky form. These are studio recordings, the sound quality is excellent and the playing time is 73 minutes. A very attractive item - bewitching even.

CD-Charts Position 9
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Monk Alone: Complete Columbia Solo Studio Recordings 1962-1968

by: Thelonious Monk

Release Date June 08, 1998
Monk was weird. This collection of solo recordings in the 1960s shows him to be out of step with the age and all the more contemporary because of it. Whilst his contemporaries were raging and screeching, here's Monk recording some well-known and totally obscure songs from the 20s and 30s in the apparently hopelessly outdated stride piano style. Yet Monk makes it sound vital, through reharmonisation and wonderful improvising, that genuinely sticks to what is written but transforms it into something better. "I Should Care" for example is reduced down to a few components but sounds as complete and satisfying as a symphony. When I bought this 7 or 8 years ago, I listened to it almost endlessly for months. One critic said with Monk you enter "a private sonic world." ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
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Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane

by: Thelonious Monk

Release Date November 10, 2006
Monk was weird. This collection of solo recordings in the 1960s shows him to be out of step with the age and all the more contemporary because of it. Whilst his contemporaries were raging and screeching, here's Monk recording some well-known and totally obscure songs from the 20s and 30s in the apparently hopelessly outdated stride piano style. Yet Monk makes it sound vital, through reharmonisation and wonderful improvising, that genuinely sticks to what is written but transforms it into something better. "I Should Care" for example is reduced down to a few components but sounds as complete and satisfying as a symphony. When I bought this 7 or 8 years ago, I listened to it almost endlessly for months. One critic said with Monk you enter "a private sonic world." ... Read More: