Thelonious Monk - Complete Prestige Recordings

Thelonious Monk's music is striking as much for its logic and lyricism as it is for its idiosyncrasy and peculiarity. It often recalls the Salvador Dali painting that looks like a murky portrait of the artist's wife from close up, but from a few yards away reveals the clear image of Abraham Lincoln. Take "We See," for instance: it sounds a bit odd on a micro level, but pan out and you hear a very appealing melody with the charm of a Tin Pan Alley standard. Monk was in on seven sessions for Prestige as a leader and sideman between October 1952 (after leaving Blue Note) and December 1954 (before bolting for Riverside). Prestige's initial LPs sliced and diced these sessions, so the chronological format of this three-CD box gives the music a welcome cohesion. Of the seven dates, four are particularly rewarding, all of them under Monk's leadership. The October 1952 trio session with trivia-question-answer Gary Mapp on bass and drummer Art Blakey yielded wonderful Monk compositions like "Bye-Ya" and "Monk's Dream." He returned to the trio format two months later (with Max Roach in Blakey's spot) and produced "Trinkle Tinkle," "Reflections," and "Bemsha Swing."

The peak of Monk's Prestige tenure came in 1954. In May, he led a quintet through the originals "We See," "Locomotive," and "Hackensack" (plus "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"), and four months later, he brought in an exceptional trio (with bassist Percy Heath and Blakey) for readings of "Nutty," "Work," and "Blue Monk." His stunning solo version of "Just a Gigolo" from that session is a perfect illustration of his way of dissecting standards. It's telling that Blakey was the drummer on three of these four sessions. No one knew how to make Monk's quirkiness swing and flow as well as Blakey, who was able to be both proactive and responsive to Monk's unique vision. The box is rounded out by Monk's sideman work behind Sonny Rollins and Miles Davis, plus four 1944 bonus cuts in support of Coleman Hawkins (made for the Joe Davis label) that are pleasant curiosities offering proof of a young Monk's (and Hawkins's) open mind. Though not as celebrated (or consistent) as his other periods, Monk's Prestige tenure includes some of his greatest triumphs. --Marc Greilsamer Amazon.com

Essential Monk

Anyone curious about Thelonious Monk would be very interested in aquiring this 1952-1954 Prestige box set. For one thing, this is his complete recordings for Prestige already put together and digitally remastered with great new liner notes about the recording sessions for each album. I have never been this happy and pleased with a box set since I bought Bill Evans - "The Complete Village Vanguard Recordings, 1961."

Like many of the reviewers have stated already, Monk absolutely rips the keys apart on many of these tunes. It is by far one of the best representations of his piano playing than any other box set. Everything here is simply ear candy.

Here are all the musicans that appear on this box set: Coleman Hawkins, Sonny Rollins, Frank Foster (tenor saxophone); Miles Davis, Ray Copeland (trumpet);Julius Watkins (French horn); Milt Jackson (vibraphone); Gary Mapp, Tommy Potter, Edward "Bass" Robinson, Curly Russell (bass); and Art Taylor, Denzil Best, Kenny Clarke, Willie Jones, Max Roach (drums).

Instead of buying these records individually, I would recommend going ahead and putting the money toward this set. I would also recommend this box set to anyone interested in hearing one of the true innovators of jazz.

This set also contains the only other version of one of my favorite Monk compositions "Locomotive," which also appears years later on his Columbia album "Straight, No Chaser."

If you like smoking piano jazz, then buy this today.


April 8, 2008

Monk : An Incredible Genius

The reason I bought this 3 CD-set in the first place was for CD 3, because it combines the Monk tracks from the "Bag's Groove" and "Miles Davis and the Jazz Giants" CDs, thus presenting on one CD that famous Christmas Eve recording session.....but all three CDs are great...the 22 bit remastering is flawless. Sure I won't play everything on the first two CDs...that is, the first four tracks on CD one are interesting in that they present Monk's first recording session with Coleman Hawkins, but those tracks are only worth listening to once...the remainder of CD one is SUPER GREAT...and similarly on CD two, the MONK material is BRILLIANT, but I'll tend to skip a few of the Sonny Rollins tracks...and ALL of CD 3 is fantastic. Bag's Groove (both versions 1 & 2) may be my favorite jazz tracks of all time. Miles and Monk both sound great (though Monk lays out when Miles plays...that's OK) and then you get the great MILT JACKSON on vibes on every track of CD 3. Milt Jackson is SUPER COOL on CD 3. I tell ya, once I discovered Thelonious Monk, no one else comes close to his quirky genius. July 19, 2007

Monk's best *PLAYING*

Although I had a few of his cd's, I never "got" Monk until I saw the Ken Burns jazz film. There's some priceless footage of Monk live in there and it shows you that not only is he playing the music, he's playing *with* the music.

The Prestige recordings were made after Monk was able to regain his cabaret card in the early 50's. He had been unable to play live for several years prior. You can hear Monk busting loose on these tracks, I have yet to hear Monk play with more intensity than he does here. It sounds like he's trying to make up for lost time.

If you want to hear Monk's best songs, get "Genius of Modern Music". If you are new to Monk and his distinctive playings style, try one of the Columbia recordings like "Straight No Chaser". They're a little easier on new ears. But if you want to hear Monk the pianist in take-no-prisoners mode, look no further than this beautiful package. July 2, 2005

Great performances, great sound, nice artwork, great numbers

The only weakness in this release, is the fact
that on the third CD (with Miles Davis, also
elsewhere available as Bag's Groove) there's
midway a lot of background noise mixed in with
the musicians and instruments, coming from the
tape recording machine itself, which is very
annoying. For some reason, in the first half of
the third CD, it doesn't come across almost at
all, until it becomes annoying, as I said, in the
final half of the third CD.

Another weakness, is that the CD's are packaged
as 3 distinct, separate jewel case, taking up
a lot of space, when a small, triple CD jewel
case could have held all 3 of the CD's.

The strong points, is the excellent sound, excellent
compositions, excellent performances, excellent
artistic and performance value in the perspective
of the listener, and all this, coming from a moment
when little money, mass media attention, or public
recognition was given to Monk, jazz, label owners
or even, to the importance of recording technology,
in the studio, back in 1948 or 1950.

All in all, great music ...a keeper. The artwork and
commentary, is a bonus, also. Very nice. January 28, 2004

Marvelous Monk

Monk's years at Prestige are often overlooked, in comparison with the attention given to his Riverside and Columbia years. This well-priced collection offers wonderful selections with Sonny Rollins, Art Blakey, Colman Hawkins and Max Roach. The real gem here is disc 3, containing the famous Christmas Eve 1954 session with Miles and Milt Jackson. The 20-Bit remastering is truly outstanding!!! In fact, if they ever re-do the pricey Riverside Box in this mannor, I may just have to buy that as well!!! Wonderful stuff..... October 6, 2002

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