Thelonious Monk

THE FRANCIS WOLFF COLLECTION

2-CD SET - 4 PANEL DIGIPACK

5 STARS ALL MUSIC GUIDE

Although there are some earlier informal testimonies of Thelonious Monk’s playing, his recording career truly started when he began working for Alfred Lion’s Blue Note label in 1947. The Blue Note dates, containing the earliest versions of Monk’s most brilliant compositions, appeared on the albums Genius of Modern Music Vol.1 & Vol.2 (Blue Note BLP-1510/1511).

This release brings together Monk’s master takes from all of his Blue Note sessions, also including two extended tunes from a 1957 Sonny Rollins date. A magnificent 1955 quartet date coled by Monk and alto saxophonist Gigi Gryce, and four unaccompanied piano versions by Monk of compositions he had first recorded for Blue Note, have been added as a bonus.

THELONIOUS MONK, piano on all tracks, plus:

Collective personnel:

• Sahib Shihab, Lou Donaldson (as),
• Lucky Thompson, Sonny Rollins (ts)
• Kenny Dorham, Idrees Sulieman (tp),
• Milt Jackson (vibes), Gene Ramey Paul Chambers (b),
• Art Blakey, Max Roach (d), among others.

Recorded in New York between 1947 and 1957."

BONUS TRACKS (CD 2, 11-14):

• i Gryce (as), Thelonious Monk (p),
• Percy Heath (b), Art Blakey (d). New York, October 15, 1955.

CD 1: TOTAL TIME: 75:51 Min:

• 01 Humph
• 02 Evonce
• 03 Suburban Eyes
• 04 Thelonious
• 05 Nice Work If You Can Get It
• 06 Ruby My Dear
• 07 Well You Needn’t
• 08 April in Paris
• 09 Off Minor
• 10 Introspection
• 11 In Walked Bud
• 12 Monk’s Mood
• 13 Who Knows
• 14 ‘Round Midnight
• 15 Four in One
• 16 Criss Cross
• 17 Eronel
• 18 Straight No Chaser
• 19 Ask Me Now
• 20 Willow Weep for Me
• 21 Skippy
• 22 Hornin’ In
• 23 Sixteen
• 24 Carolina Moon

CD 2: TOTAL TIME 78:34 Min.

• 01 Let’s Cool One
• 02 I’ll Follow You
• 03 Evidence
• 04 Misterioso
• 05 Epistrophy
• 06 I Mean You
• 07 All the Things You Are
• 08 I Should Care
• 09 Reflections
• 10 Misterioso
• 11 Shuffle Boil*
• 12 Brake’s Sake*
• 13 Gallop’s Gallop*
• 14 Nica’s Tempo*
• 15 Eronel [Solo piano version]*
• 16 Evidence [Solo piano version]*
• 17 Well You Needn’t [Solo piano version]*
• 18 ‘Round Midnight [Solo piano version]*