Need some Columbia Monk

[Big Al]

Borders has the most recent reissues on sale for $7.99, and they may even have them all on sale for that price. But for me, a little Monk can go a long way. I specifically did NOT include Criss Cross cuz I'm gonna get that one anyway. I'm leaning towards Solo Monk because I like the London Collection solo pieces. But I haven't heard any of the others (except CC) and the only Columbia Monk I have is Live at the It Club.

I wish there was a way to choose three titles on the list (cuz I've got enough for four, including CC). But I'll just take the top three vote-getters and go from there.

Thanks, as always!

[Soul Stream]

Monk's Dream was his biggest seller...so that's why I voted for. However, I LOVE "It's Monk's Time" as well as "Monk." They're ALL F'in great!!!!

[DrJ]

I voted ITS MONK'S TIME...a truly great album, and one that has been unjustly obscure. When you look at the track list you won't see a lot of Monk "favorites" but it's all the better for that. Classic - get it, you won't regret it.

Then get the rest.

[EKE BBB]

Sure get´em all!!!

If you need to start with just one.... I would pick two: "It´s Monk time" or "Monk´s dream"

Edited September 25, 2003 by EKE BBB

[jazzbo]

I voted for Underground. A lot of variety on that disc, trio sides, quartet sides, John Hendricks' masterful appearance. The new reissue is a stone classic rechiseled right.

[king ubu]

I have not yet gotten all of them, but hell!, they're a very nice bunch of albums! I got the 3CD box (thinking along the well-known lines that the Columbia years were sort of uninteresting, nothing new etc etc) and fell in love with that stuff. Have the live ones (all of them), and started on the studio stuff. Got "Monk's Dream", "Straight No Chaser", and the 2CD Solo set (which, by the way, includes "Solo Monk").

I will sure get more of them as soon as I can afford (and have time to listen).

"Monk's Dream", for one, is a tremendous disc (though I prefer the take of "Bye-Ya" that starts the box - and that, strangely (keepnews-y?) is not on the reissue of "Monk's Dream" in the same form).

ubu

[Big Al]

Majority of votes for all the titles.... fat lotta help y'all are!

But I kinda expected it. I imagine at some point I'll get 'em all; right now I just wanna take 'em a little at a time, digest 'em all slowly, y'know? I like the idea of getting 'em chronologically.

Seriously, thanks for the recs. You guys are always a great help!

[pryan]

I voted MONK'S DREAM. My dad has a copy of it on vinyl and it's pretty scratchy; I may pick up the newly remastered version, as I believe it also includes some alternates. A great date, BTW.

[jpmosu]

I took a stand and voted for a single title: *Straight, No Chaser.* (The question *did* ask where to start--presumably you'll get them all someday.)

*Chaser* has a lot of tunes that don't appear on the Riverside or Blue Note releases and, for that alone, it's essential to pick up. I also love Charlie Rouse's playing on this session. Second place goes to *It's Monk's Time*--for all the same reasons.

john

[jmjk]

"Monk's Dream" was the first jazz record I ever heard, so I have a soft spot for it.

[Brad]

Solo Monk is a wonderful fanstastic album. Even if you're not crazy about Monk or solo albums in general, you will after this as you hear him weave through the material. While I like these reissues, why not try Live at the It Club. That's pretty fantastic. I agree that Monk is not somebody you can always listen to in lengthy doses but I love to listen to some of his material every couple of weeks.

[bebopbob]

Especially at $6.99/$7.99 a disc, skip out on a couple of lunches and grab them all.

J&R Music in NYC has all Columbia "Nice Price" CDs on sale for $6.99/disc until October/November which includes the Monk reissues. I don't know if this sale applies to on-line sales though.

[Jazzmoose]

Straight, No Chaser would be my choice. Monk's Dream must be a different disc than I remember...let me check.

Yup. Never mind; I was thinking "Monk's Blues", my least favorite Monk of all...whew!

[paul secor]

I've always liked Monk's Dream, but you can't go wrong with any of them.

[mikeweil]

Yeah, start with Monk' Dream, that will get you hooked. Right now it's nearly possible to buy them in the order they were recorded. But a priority should the the 2 CDs from Linclon Center, Big Band and Quartet in Concert, a high point in Monk's career, is this still in print?

I looked it up, it is, and even AMG's Scott Yanow considers it essential: GET IT!!!

[danasgoodstuff]

I agree, Monk's Big Band and Quartet is one of the best things of his on Columbia. Didn't Hal Overton also do new arrangements for a couple of Monk big band concerts in the late '60s/early '70s? (And were the recorded?) I'm also wuite fond of the octet tour of Europe, kinda the best of both worlds (big band and small, I think 'mid-sized' bands are generally v. overlooked/underated but that's a rant for another day...).

[brownie]

Get them all!

And don't forget the Monk at Newport set. Monk and PeeWee Russell playing together. You shouldn't miss that!

[EKE BBB]

Get them all!

And don't forget the Monk at Newport set. Monk and PeeWee Russell playing together. You shouldn't miss that!

you certainly shouldn't!

the other 2CD live sets are worth it as well: Tokyo, It Club, Jazz Workshop

Yeah! Particularly IT CLUB!

[king ubu]

Yeah, start with Monk' Dream, that will get you hooked. Right now it's nearly possible to buy them in the order they were recorded. But a priority should the the 2 CDs from Linclon Center, Big Band and Quartet in Concert, a high point in Monk's career, is this still in print?

I looked it up, it is, and even AMG's Scott Yanow considers it essential: GET IT!!!

Anyone knows if this is coming out soon in a new (restored/remastered) version?

I always kept my hand off of it in hope of a new reissue.

ubu

[king ubu]

we may be in for yet another treat.

Let's hope so!

Some of it was on the box, but the box covered nearly everything Monk did in his Columbia years. It's a real nice box, in my opinion, even if you have all the single reissues.

Generally, I love the Legacy reissues of the Monk material very much (even though I'm far from having all of them yet).

ubu

[mikeweil]

I agree, Monk's Big Band and Quartet is one of the best things of his on Columbia.  Didn't Hal Overton also do new arrangements for a couple of Monk big band concerts in the late '60s/early '70s?  (And were the recorded?)  I'm also quite fond of the octet tour of Europe, kinda the best of both worlds (big band and small, I think 'mid-sized' bands are generally v. overlooked/underated but that's a rant for another day...).

Hal Overton had done the arrangements for the 1959 Riverside album "At Town Hall" (now on OJC CD-135-2). The octet used his arrangements in a scaled-down version as well, AFAIK. But other than that Riverside, the Columbia, and the concert bootlegs from Europe there are no recordings of this. The last Monk big band LP for Columbia was arranged by Oliver Nelson with less than great results.

While searching the pic I came across this one, which seems worth checking out:

Lydian Sound Orchestra - Monk at Town Hall & More

2003 - CD Abeat ABJZ 013

From AMG:

"It is ironic that it took an Italian arranger by the name of Riccardo Brazzale, using a top-flight Italian jazz orchestra, to produce such a fine big-band tribute to American composer Thelonious Monk. Occasionally others, of course, such as T.S. Monk, have successfully engaged in big-band tributes, but this one, Monk at Town Hall & More, is distinguished by its use of transcriptions from Hall Overton's arrangements from the classic 1959 Town Hall concert that were reinterpreted by Brazzale. The tentet organized by Brazzale includes some of Italy's best musicians, with Pietro Tonolo on soprano sax and Roberto Rossi on trombone, while trumpeter Kyle Gregory adds some tasty solos on trumpet. In addition to tunes by Thelonious Monk, the band adds a loving version of "Abide With Me" (featuring Tonolo, who unfortunately suffers from slight problems with intonation), and a short piece by Brazzale entitled "Additional C. Q. Six." Highlights include some impressive soloing by pianist Paolo Birro, who plays the Monk role smartly by not aping him; and a lyrical Rossi, who is heard on several tracks to good advantage. Although the new arrangements are an exciting concept, Brazzale is somewhat too respectful; he might have opted occasionally to pursue different avenues while remaining true to Monk's spirit. While the results are almost always of superior quality and many of the solos are first-rate, the talented Brazzale takes his cue directly from the 1959 set, resulting in uniformly high standards but lacking on occasion the high-spirited sense of wonder that infused Monk's music. - Steven Loewy"

Edited October 2, 2003 by mikeweil

[king ubu]

While searching the pic I came across this one, which seems worth checking out:

Lydian Sound Orchestra - Monk at Town Hall & More

2003 - CD Abeat ABJZ 013

From AMG:

"It is ironic that it took an Italian arranger by the name of Riccardo Brazzale, using a top-flight Italian jazz orchestra, to produce such a fine big-band tribute to American composer Thelonious Monk. Occasionally others, of course, such as T.S. Monk, have successfully engaged in big-band tributes, but this one, Monk at Town Hall & More, is distinguished by its use of transcriptions from Hall Overton's arrangements from the classic 1959 Town Hall concert that were reinterpreted by Brazzale. The tentet organized by Brazzale includes some of Italy's best musicians, with Pietro Tonolo on soprano sax and Roberto Rossi on trombone, while trumpeter Kyle Gregory adds some tasty solos on trumpet. In addition to tunes by Thelonious Monk, the band adds a loving version of "Abide With Me" (featuring Tonolo, who unfortunately suffers from slight problems with intonation), and a short piece by Brazzale entitled "Additional C. Q. Six." Highlights include some impressive soloing by pianist Paolo Birro, who plays the Monk role smartly by not aping him; and a lyrical Rossi, who is heard on several tracks to good advantage. Although the new arrangements are an exciting concept, Brazzale is somewhat too respectful; he might have opted occasionally to pursue different avenues while remaining true to Monk's spirit. While the results are almost always of superior quality and many of the solos are first-rate, the talented Brazzale takes his cue directly from the 1959 set, resulting in uniformly high standards but lacking on occasion the high-spirited sense of wonder that infused Monk's music. - Steven Loewy"

This one seems to be very good! I read an enthusiastic review recently in a swiss newspaper (written by one of the very few really good swiss jazz critics).

ubu

[ajf67]

Voted for "MONK," because I think it is an underappreciated album, and not at all deserving of its relative obscurity. But "Monk's Dream" and "It's Monk's Time" are simply first-rate.

The 2CD Solo Monk set is a must-have also. I like alternating listens of that with "Thelonious Alone in San Francisco" to see the difference in his playing.