Thelonious Monk

• LIMITED 10" VINYL REISSUE

• 5 STARS ALL MUSIC GUIDE

2015 reissue from Blue Note Records' 75th Anniversary Vinyl Initiative series. Originally released in 1952. "The second volume in this two-disc series displays Thelonious Monk coming into his own fully as a leader. The program consists almost entirely of original compositions, and in fact it opens with two of his most difficult: 'Four in One' (with its conventional bop intro that leads into a bizarre, repeated five-against-two quintuplet sequence) and the forbiddingly abstract 'Criss Cross.' Get through those and you'll eventually be rewarded with the relatively straightforward, blues-based 'Straight No Chaser' and the sweet ballad 'Ask Me Now,' among other treats. Sidemen include the young trumpeter Kenny Dorham and bassist Al McKibbon, as well as a more clued-in Art Blakey and (replacing Blakey on half of the program) Max Roach. Sahib Shihab's sax tone is more appropriate this time out, and the production quality is somewhat better. -- Rick Anderson, All Music

PERSONNEL:

• Thelonious Monk - piano
• Milt Jackson - vibraphone
• Danny Quebec West - alto saxophone
• Sahib Shihab - alto saxophone
• Billy Smith - tenor saxophone
• George Tait - trumpet
• Idresse Suliman - trumpet
• Al McKibbon - bass
• Robert Paige - bass
• Gene Ramey - bass
• Art Blakey - drums

TRACKS:

• SIDE A
• A1. Four In One
• A2. Who Knows
• A3. Nice Work

• SIDE B
• B1. In Walked Bud
• B2. Humph
• B3. Suburban Eyes
• B4. Ask Me Now