Thelonious Monk - Monk Alone: The Complete Solo Studio Recordings of Thelonious Monk 1962-1968

Fact: Thelonious Monk is one of the most important composers--jazz or otherwise--of this century. Not only did Monk help invent the music we now call be-bop, but he also introduced jazz music to the avant-garde, setting the table for a tradition unmatched in American music. Monk's legacy is unquestioned and his melodies echo through almost every genre of music to this day. Yet one thing Thelonious never got enough credit for was his piano playing. Monk developed a halting, stop-start style as unique and singular as his compositions. While melodies seemed to drop from Monk's fingers, he also spiced his tunes with left-field plinks and plunks, blistering right-handed runs and thunderous left handed slams.

On Monk Alone: The Complete Solo Studio Recordings of Thelonious Monk 1962-1968, a two-CD collection, the genius of Monk is plainly evident. Monk can ache with what he called "ugly beauty" while also adding his own inventions to standards. The highlight of this collection, besides the wonderful liner notes and detailed discographic info, are 14 previously unreleased tracks, including alternate takes of Monk masterpieces like "Ruby, My Dear," "Introspection," and "Ask Me Now." A must-have. --S. Duda Amazon.com

Artistic control

Neither the artist nor the producer considered most of these takes to be good enough to be released. Thelonious Monk always sounds like Thelonious Monk, but releasing alternate takes and make up takes is like buying a piece of paper just because Picasso signed it.

I think artistic control over what gets released should be in the hands of the artists, and remain there. July 24, 2007

Most Expressive.

He strikes deeply, full of sauce and elegant on the groove; piano singing strong, sweet and loving with all the sobering clarity of one who blends all tonalities into the broadest harmonies. Forever modern, heedless of trendsetting, he strides tradition freely in hand with all the care and vision of one defying the blandness of blind convention.
Step into the world of master artist Thelonious Monk, and embrace the melody and mystique that was his to command. For those who've gotten a solid taste of The High Priest via Blue Note's acclaimed Carnegie Hall Concert release featuring Monk and John Coltrane, I'll just say that MONK ALONE is the musical epitome of what constitutes a full-course meal!
A complete collection of his Columbia Records studio recordings for solo piano, the 2 CD collection is a stunning portrait of a genius at work. At once relaxing to the soul and a challenging call to the heart and ears, this 1962-1968 journey is a cavalcade of timeless ballads and standards
-many of them Monk's own- which the pianist plays with ringing authority and consummate touch.

One would expect marvelous renditions of "'Round Midnight" and "Ruby My Dear", and Monk delivers; granting us a precious view into the emotional dexterity of a great composer's mind. Equally precious are the performances of lesser-known original gems such as Introspection and "Ask Me Now", and the bravura renditions of standard-bearers such as "I'm Confessin' That I Love You", "Dinah", and the immortal ballad "Body and Soul".
Puckish rumination fires up the stride of "Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea", which proves a wry summation of how most Americans view Monk (and most of Jazz, for that matter!), to say nothing of how The High Priest dealt with much of the world, in turn. For sheer heartache and irresistible imploring, try "Everything Happens To Me", and perhaps the times in which we live will become a tad more tangible.
To gain a sterling peek into the master's roots, pull up a chair and just breathe in the humble spirituality of the devoutly-rendered "This Is My Story, This Is My Song", the wistful chestnut breeze whistling through Eubie Blake's "Memories Of You", or the sunny afternoon testimony of "I Love You Sweetheart (Of All My Dreams)".

Always, throughout this priceless, tuneful journey strolls the supple,
steady walk of The Blues, posing
an affirming grasp upon all to be
sung, and all to come...
November 7, 2005

Blue Label

When Richard Cook and Brian Morton reviewed this set for their Penguin Guide to Jazz, they wrote: "This is an essential purchase, uncategorizable and resistant to the adjectival attentions of critics." I agree completely.

A lot has been said about this music, and about its value and appeal. I think most critics miss the point. You can't compare this to solo recordings by Bill Evans or Oscar Peterson. There's no point of reference. This is thick, heavy music. It isn't meant to be played for an hour, straight through. It's something else.

Sit down with a pair of headphones, and play two or three tracks. Come back tomorrow, and play a couple more. That's the only way to listen to this music. There's incredible depth and dimension here, and you'll discover new beauty on each pass. This isn't water, and it sure as hell isn't beer. It's Blue Label scotch. It's meant for slow sipping.

Monk was unique. He was a genius, but he was also on a completely different wavelength. I would never disparage albums like the It Club -- but there's no question Monk was at his best when sitting alone at a piano, unfettered by the burden of bandmates. The result was his vision, pure and unfiltered, and music which easily stands beside Bach and Beethoven. May 21, 2005

Solo Piano....By MONK!

My first introduction to Monk after the Ken Burns Jazz cd set was the Columbia years box and when I saw that there were songs of just Thelonious Monk playing piano, I was thinking foolishly and kind of blew them off, thinking it would get boring.....BOY...WAS I WRONG!! Yeah, Monk is that good a pianist. My favorite on this is his solo recording of his most beautiful song, 'Round Midnight, from November of 1968, is so hauntingly beautiful. It sounds more raggy than the Miles Davis version and has a beautiful ending. He had a sort of raggy swing to his piano playing and that was one of the reasons this recording is just about as entertaining as it would be if he had the Rouse, or even, dare I say, the Coltrane quartet with him. I wouldn't really advise this one if you are new to Monk or jazz. If you are new to Monk and are on a budget, get Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane or Monk's Dream, but if you are a big Monk fan like me or just a lover of beautiful piano playing, jazz or even classical, get this, and no need to thank me because you will probably be speechless anyway. April 7, 2005

Great and sometimes difficult music that grows on you.

This is a big collection of Monk solo material, culled from his Columbia tenure and the albums "Monk's Dream," "Criss Cross," "It's Monk's Time," "Straight, No Chaser" and the rarity, "Always Know." It also contains every song on the "Solo Monk" LP as well as 14 unreleased tracks and rejected takes, many of which will only be of interest to collectors and completists.

Some reviewers have said that this stuff doesn't catch Monk during his peak period, that he doesn't have the spark he possessed during his Riverside period. And I would totally agree with that. But at the same time, I find that the limitations and obstructions he faced deepen this music to a degree. If one wants snap and polish, I think "Alone in San Francisco" is the choice to make (and, to my knowledge though I could be completely wrong, that's the only Riverside album currently available that's composed entirely of solo performances). If one wants an introduction to Monk's music, I'd suggest "Plays Duke Ellington" or one of the Blue Note releases.

But if you want to hear what becomes of a master, and you have the patience to let a big collection of music grow on you, "Monk Alone" is worth the time and effort.

It took me a while to fit into this collection. But I think it's good music to be alone with, it's just you and him. I like to work and write to this music, it's intense but quiet. It's the sound of an artist laboring by himself.

October 13, 2004

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