GA Russell Posted October 17, 2014 Report Posted October 17, 2014 I am looking at two Monk Columbia releases: Live at the Jazz Workshop - Complete http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000056KDD/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3PGK7W8CFAIS0 Big Band & Quartet in Concert http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012GMXME/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_7?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=APZB0IDP1EYQW Has anyone heard either of these, and have an opinion? I suspect that they are overrated by the Amazon reviewers, but maybe not. Thanks! Quote
BillF Posted October 17, 2014 Report Posted October 17, 2014 I am looking at two Monk Columbia releases: Live at the Jazz Workshop - Complete http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000056KDD/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3PGK7W8CFAIS0 Big Band & Quartet in Concert http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012GMXME/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_7?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=APZB0IDP1EYQW Has anyone heard either of these, and have an opinion? I suspect that they are overrated by the Amazon reviewers, but maybe not. Thanks! Don't know the first, but the second is very fine Monk - perhaps not of the first order (I'd put the Town Hall concert in that category), but very good all the same, and plenty of it as a 2 CD set. Quote
jazzbo Posted October 17, 2014 Report Posted October 17, 2014 Jazz Workshop is very much along the lines of "Live at the It Club." I like it very much, but I have a hard time being impartial, I love Monk. Quote
John L Posted October 17, 2014 Report Posted October 17, 2014 Big Band & Quartet in Concert is a more distinct and unusual item in the discography. Many believe it to be the most successful Monk with a larger band, and I am inclined to agree. Jazz Workshop is a fairly average performance by the Monk quartet of the period, not as strong at "Live at the It Club," in my opinion, but still quite enjoyable. Quote
paul secor Posted October 17, 2014 Report Posted October 17, 2014 If I were making a choice it would be Big Band and Quartet. Jazz Workshop is good but not a necessity unless you're a Monk completist or close to that. Quote
colinmce Posted October 17, 2014 Report Posted October 17, 2014 I think any Monk is worth having. But I would consider the Big Band an essential item. The Jazz Workshop is certainly worth your time, if ultimately slightly redundant. Quote
jazzbo Posted October 17, 2014 Report Posted October 17, 2014 I agree with all the above. If this were five years ago I would say with hope "wait for the inevitable expanded and remastered 'Big Band and Quartet in Concert' it's an important work and the new reissue will be great." But I now doubt we'll see it unless Columbia does a similar set to the Studio Recordings with the Live Recordings. I'd like to see that, I thought I saw someone mention it as a possiblibity but I don't know if we'll ever see such a thing. Quote
mjzee Posted October 17, 2014 Report Posted October 17, 2014 Also, the Big Band CD is super-inexpensive right now - look at Amazon Resellers. I agree with the above about Jazz Workshop. I remember when it came out on LP, a few months after It Club, and noting that It Club sounded a lot more alive and energetic; JW sounds more like a routine date. Quote
Steve Reynolds Posted October 17, 2014 Report Posted October 17, 2014 Big Band and Quartet is essential - especially due to the debut of the wonderful Oska T along with a great version of Four in One with a superb arrangement and execution by the large ensemble. The only regret many of us have is that Steve Lacy (famously or infamously now!) only plays in the ensemble. Quote
B. Clugston Posted October 17, 2014 Report Posted October 17, 2014 Big Band and Quartet is top notch. Great Hall Overton arrangements, nice solos from Phil Woods and Thad Jones and Frankie Dunlop is firing on all cylinders. Quote
erwbol Posted October 17, 2014 Report Posted October 17, 2014 I agree with all the above. If this were five years ago I would say with hope "wait for the inevitable expanded and remastered 'Big Band and Quartet in Concert' it's an important work and the new reissue will be great." But I now doubt we'll see it unless Columbia does a similar set to the Studio Recordings with the Live Recordings. I'd like to see that, I thought I saw someone mention it as a possiblibity but I don't know if we'll ever see such a thing. That was me. I have the quartet complete studio set from 2012 and in the booklet producer Richard Seidel mentions a live set. Quote:"... in addition to his studio work with his quartet, made several live recordings in club and concert settings during this period. Those live performances will comprise a projected future Monk collection in Columbia/Legacy's Complete Album series." Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted October 18, 2014 Report Posted October 18, 2014 Yes, the Jazz Workshop set is inferior to the It Club by a mile. Quote
LouisvillePrez Posted October 18, 2014 Report Posted October 18, 2014 You probably don!t need another recommendation for BB & Q, but it is my favorite Monk on Columbia. Quote
mikeweil Posted October 18, 2014 Report Posted October 18, 2014 You probably don!t need another recommendation for BB & Q, but it is my favorite Monk on Columbia. Same here. AFAIK the Columbia two disc set includes the complete concert, three sets, two big band, the middle one in a quartet setting with a Monk solo for openers, and all tracks were restored to full length as the first LP issue had all the bass and drums solos edited out. The monk quartet and Thad Jones and Phil Woods are the only soloists. If I could take only one Monk album to the desert island it would be this one! The only Columbia Monk not yet reissued in expanded form is the Brandeis University concert, part of which was on "Misterioso", and probably some live material from Mexico. I have given up on this, I must say. Quote
soulpope Posted October 18, 2014 Report Posted October 18, 2014 Big Band+Quartet, but get the Wokshop thereafter Quote
mikeweil Posted October 18, 2014 Report Posted October 18, 2014 (edited) He who loves Monk will want to have it all, anyway, after a while ... Edited October 18, 2014 by mikeweil Quote
JSngry Posted October 18, 2014 Report Posted October 18, 2014 Thad was brilliant with Monk, as he was generally, but really, really brilliant here. Quote
AndrewHill Posted October 26, 2014 Report Posted October 26, 2014 To me neat snipets of a comfortable time in monks career; I tend towards the Tokyo date but really like all the Columbia live releases from this time Quote
AndrewHill Posted October 26, 2014 Report Posted October 26, 2014 I mean monk made sense to me in stages: to move from the bn to prestige to riverside to Columbia: he makes sense in terms of progression n that doesn't necessarily mean moving forward but hovering; it sometimes means where is monk now? N where he was in the mid 60's worked for me. Quote
Simon8 Posted November 4, 2014 Report Posted November 4, 2014 Because the Town Hall Concert never truly clicked for me and thinking for a long time that this "BB&Q" was kind of a odds and ends compilation, I never gave it a fair shot. Well ! This is, indeed, top notch Monk, with Monk himself in great form and spirit, as are Rouse, Thad Jones and Phil Woods upfront, and Dunlop behind (a true joy). The arrangements make it at the same time a relaxed, airy and intense affair. A fantastic take of "Four in One" and a great "Misterioso", amongst others. Quote
jlhoots Posted November 4, 2014 Report Posted November 4, 2014 Just purchased the 2 CD B,B&Q for $1.99. Quote
Stereojack Posted November 4, 2014 Report Posted November 4, 2014 BB&Q has long been among my favorite Monk records - originally on LP, and later expanded for CD. The concert begins at a high point for me, the wonderful version of "I Mean You", and soars from there. Essential Monk, imo.. Quote
danasgoodstuff Posted November 5, 2014 Report Posted November 5, 2014 BB&Q for $1.99 is a heck of a deal, Hal O also wrote at least one more set of arrangements for Monk, right? Quote
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