Customer Reviews

Genius of Modern Music 2

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Since I first heard them, Thelonious Monk's Blue Note recordings have captivated me like no other jazz recordings. They are simply the best work by a genius modern composer. While numerous pictures of Monk exist in which he wears the boppers uniform of beret, horn rim glasses and pin stripe suit ( the photo of monk, roy eldridge and howard mcghee-taken in front of Minton's comes to mind) it's a mistake to think of monk as just another exponent of the Bebop school. He is something much more than that-a unique individual in his music, rendering something much more deeply personal...you will hear that in this stellar music. If you like individuality, uniqueness, playfulness and adventure in your jazz, then this is for you. You won't be disappointed.
My only quibble with this set is that there is simply no reason not to include the July 2, 1948 session either at the beginning of this set or at the end of "Genius of modern music, Volume 1." That brilliant session included such classics as "Evidence," "Misterioso", "Epistrophy" and "I mean You," all of which are essential blue note monk tunes. Why aren't they on either of these volumes? There are no time constraints. There's simply no good reason.
But be that as it may, this is still desert island modern jazz. And you can pick up that missing brilliant session on either "The best of monk on blue note" or the french CD "Thelonious Monk 1947-1948," ; Classics CD 1118. In whatever form you find it, don't miss this superb music.
And, "I mean you."

This is the second installment of Thelonious Monk on Blue Note, recorded 4 years after Genius of Modern Music Volume 1. Though it doesn't feature as many of the pianist's most famous compositions as Volume 1, it has several things going for it. The sidemen are much, much better here -- Monk and vibraphonist Milt Jackson play very well together, while Sahib Shihab and Art Blakey "get" Monk's ideas much better than they did on Volume 1. (Listen to Blakey's rim shots on the intro to "Straight No Chaser" -- awesome!) The second half of the CD features Max Roach and two up-and-coming stars -- alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson and underrated trumpeter Kenny Dorham. The compositions aren't Monk's most popular (except for "Straight No Chaser"), but contain quite a few lost classics: "Criss Cross", "Four in One", "Eronel", and "Skippy". There's also a beautiful reading of the standard "Willow Weep for Me". I actually prefer The Thelonious Monk Trio (on Prestige/Fantasy) over this CD, but this is still classic early Monk. And if you like this music, get the RVG remaster of Volume 1 too.

By the way, there's a mistake in the CD case track listing and consequently on this site: track 7 is not "Nice Work if You Can Get It" but rather an alternate take of "Four in One".

After his debut recordings as a leader in 1947, it was quite a while until Thelonious Monk returned to the studio as a leader. His next two sessions for Blue Note, in the summer of 1951 and spring of 1952 are collected as "Genius of Modern Music, Volume 2". Although LP technology was available, Blue Note chose to keep Monk in the single format.

The first session, from the summer of '51 finds Monk with perhaps the first frontline that truly "got" his music in alto saxophonist Sahib Shihab and vibist Milt Jackson, with bassist Al McKibbon and drummer Art Blakey anchoring the session. With the exception of a reading of "Nice Work If You Can Get It" (which Monk curiously recorded for Blue Note in 1947 as well), all the pieces are Monk originals, and this level of focus benefits the band, whether it's the midtempo oddball "Criss Cross" (which works nicely with the odd frontline), ecstatic "Straight No Chaser" (which curiously flounders a bit on Shihab's solo), or piano feature "Ask Me Now", where Monk really shows just what he's capable of.

The second session produces far less interesting music, with Monk accompanied by trumpeter Kenny Dorham, reedmen Lou Donaldson (on alto) and Lucky Thompson (on tenor), bassist Nelson Boyd and drummer Max Roach. By and large, it feels as though the horns don't quite get into this as much they should and they seem to get in the way of each other. "Skippy" is fantastic, full of energy and explosiveness, mid-tempo number "Let's Cool One" works reasonably well, but some of the material ("Sixteen", standards "Carolina Moon" and "I'll Follow You") receive straight and largely uninteresting reading. This is most surprising on "I'll Follow You", which sheds the horns entirely and presents Monk in a trio setting.

As part of the Rudy Van Gelder edition of remasters, this album features fantastic sound, given the age of the recording, far superior to the previous issue.

There's enough good music on here to make this one worth digging up, but for interest in early Monk, start with Volume 1.

Tracks 1 - 9: Thelonious Monk - piano, Sahib Shihab - alto sax, Milt Jackson - vibes, Al McKibbon - bass, Art Blakey - drums. Recorded on 7/23/51.

Tracks 10 - 18: Thelonious Monk - piano, Kenny Dorham - trumpet, Lou Donaldson - alto sax, Lucky Thompson - tenor sax, Nelson Boyd - bass, Max Roach - drums. Recorded on 5/30/52.

This is one of the great documents of Thelonious Monk's unique (and totally engaging) style and vision. I almost considered giving this 4 stars for no other reason than I know that the Rouse band is probably more popular/familiar for most people, but I just couldn't. This is five stars all the way.

Actually, seeing a previous review (after writing mine) has made me slip this note in here and drop it down to 4. I don't have that '48 session! That IS a good question... if it can fit on here, why isn't it on here? Although, for what IS here, it's still a 5-star disc.

I wonder whether this review will be mainly read by longtime Monk fans, or by people who are new to him. For those of you who know his stuff... everything that is Monk... it's all here. This is a fantastic disc! For those of you who are new to him but have other jazz discs... you're in for a treat. No one elses music moves like Monk's moves. Everything about him stands alone. Once you get acquainted with his music, his rhythms, melodies (of his tunes), and piano playing will be instantly recognizable to you because, like I said... his music has its own distinct sense of movement.

That off-kilter sense of bouncy, swinging thrust that Dolphy's music has... it's due in part to his fascination with our man right here, Monk.

I love this disc, and the fact that it's by 2 different bands is really nice. You get to hear that Monk Vision as filtered through the lenses of 2 distinct bands. As for which band I prefer, it just depends on my mood. Both bands have it! As for this disc, you should have it!

Monk on Blue Note with superb supporting musicians playing many of his best known compositions. Can't go wrong here. My favorite tracks are on the first half of the CD featuring Milt Jackson. Check out Willlow Weep For Me and you will be instantly hooked. Monk's music has a vibrancy that is really captured in these recordings and for either the uninitiated or hard core Monkophiles this is a must own CD. Of all the guys who came out of the Bebop scene Monk's music stands out as the music that remains as fresh and challenging as anything being done today. Do yourself a favor and check this out.

I purchased this collection about 4 years ago and it is one of my favorite CD's. This contains some of the most freewheeling and inspired music I have ever heard. Monk was a true genius, and this album features several of jazz's greats. Buy this album today. You will not regret it.

Thelonious Monk / genius of modern music Volume 2: This music is as great as what was found in volume one. Here is Monks early version of "Straight no chaser". This is a Masterpiece album. This gets Five Stars.

Great condition, shipped quickly and on time. This CD was for my Dad, and he's absolutely in love with it and won't stop listening to it. He's a big jazz-head (photographed top artists for years), so, his approval says a lot.

i can't believe no one else has reviewed this record. well, if you're reading this, GET IT! this and volume one are like the hot fives of the post-war, for god's sake.

5 Stars for the great music but does anyone else hear the annoying "da duh duh da da" of someone, I assume Monk, humming or singing the notes in the background on most of the tracks? It's not too loud but loud enough for it to be really disconcerting to me. Seems like a real shame, to me at least - I'm taking off two stars for that. If you're a close listener perhaps steer clear of this release (perhaps the newer editions cut out more of this?).