Thelonious Monk - The Complete London Collection [3 CDs]

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Thelonious Monk - The Complete London Collection [3 CDs]

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The first of three Black Lion CDs in this valuable series features music from the last significant Thelonious Monk recording session. There are ten solo performances on the spirited and generally joyful program with Monk sounding at his best on five of his originals (including the striding "Blue Sphere") plus typically unique versions of "Darn That Dream," "Meet Me Tonight in Dreammland," "Nice Work If You Can Get It," "My Melancholy Baby" and "Lover Man." Although virtually at the end of his career and playing in a style unchanged from 25 years earlier, Thelonious Monk is in prime form and seems quite enthusiastic during these memorable performances. All three volumes (which have also been reissued by Black Lion in a compact box) are easily recommended. All Music Guide

Pianist-composer Thelonious Monk's final recording session as a leader (cut in London during a Giants of Jazz tour) resulted in enough material to fill up three CDs. The second volume features Monk with bassist Al McKibbon and drummer Art Blakey on eight trio renditions of Monk's tunes. Although all of the material had been recorded and performed by Monk many times before, these versions sound quite fresh. Highlights include "Evidence," the complex "Criss Cross," "Nutty" and "Hackensack." All of the CDs in this series are well worth picking up for Monk proves to be in prime form during this final effort. All Music Guide

The third of three Black Lion CDs taken from Thelonious Monk's final recording session as a leader features the unique pianist/composer on six solo performances (including the ten-minute "Chordially," which documents him warming up) and five trio numbers with bassist Al McKibbon and drummer Art Blakey. A special bonus of this CD is that three alternate takes ("Nutty," "Crepuscule with Nellie" and "Evidence") were previously unissued, even on Mosaic's "complete" Thelonious Monk Black Lion and Vogue LP box set. Although virtually at the end of his career, Monk sounds quite content throughout this date and is in top form. All three CDs are also available in a compact Black Lion box set, and they serve as a strong close to the career of the remarkable Thelonious Monk All Music Guide