Solo Monk [Extra tracks, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Thelonious Monk | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 19, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000AVHBN
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,732 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Solo piano performances., October 6, 2005

By 

Michael Stack (North Chelmsford, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Solo Monk (Audio CD)

Hearing Thelonious Monk as a solo pianist is always a unique experience-- his style, always rather unique in its use of space and rhythm, picks up a delicate stride feel to it when presented without other instruments. After four quartet albums, in late 1964 Columbia record Monk in a solo context, on an album cleverly called "Solo Monk". This reissue augments the original twelve song album with nine bonus tracks, creating a rather extensive set.

The album itself is the usual blend of Monk originals and standards-- Monk's stride (and to a lesser extent ragtime) influences come out clearly through many fo the standards he tackles, with fantastic takes of "Dinah" and "I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)" being deep in the stride tradition (although there is definitely something very Monkish about them. Comparing these to the very Monkish "I Surrender, Dear" or the extraordinarily fractured "I Should Care" shows the real breadth of Monk's talents as a pianist. The originals include two pieces never before recorded-- "North of the Sunset" and "Monk's Point". Both are similar (Bb blues with stride execution), neither are particularly revalatory. Readings of "Ask Me Now" and "Ruby, My Dear" fare much better. The former has both a deliberate and sensitive feel to it. The latter is one of those pieces I can just never get sick of, it's one of my favorites by Monk and is rendered beautifully.

The bonus tracks are kind of a mixed bag-- seven are alternates of material that was issued on the LP-- some of these are interesting and you wonder why Monk picked the take he did rather than the one on here ("Ruby, My Dear"), some of them clearly find Monk fumbling a bit and trying to work out his ideas ("Dinah", "Sweet and Lovely"). A pair of pieces that weren't included on the original LP are also included here-- Monk original "Introspection" gets a tentative reading, probably left off because Monk never quite finished his thought. "Darn That Dream" is fairly unique in that it gets a pretty straight reading, Monk drives through the theme several times without much of his usual style.

A note-- the remastered sound is superb. Make sure you get the variant of this without the purplish/blue edge (that was the old issue and won't sound nearly as nice).

"Solo Monk" is not the best of Monk's solo performances ("Thelonious Himself" on Riverside gets my vote on that), but its a decent record.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alone, April 25, 2008

By 

Brian D. Fitzpatrick (Medford, MA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Solo Monk (Audio CD)

"..Monk's unique piano style was largely perfected during his stint as the house pianist at 'Mintons' in New York City during the early to mid 1940's when he participated in the famous after hours 'cutting competitions' that featured most of the leading jazz soloist of the period.The Minton's scene was crucial in the formulations of the be-bop genre,and brought Monk in close contact with Charlie Parker,Dizzy Gillepie,Kenny Clarke and other greats of the day..."[Excerpts from a profile of Monk on Wikipedia] Minton's was the breeding ground for the devolopment of a new musical language.New harmonic and melodic approaches were developed and perfected. A 'thinking tank' so to speak.
Thelonious Monk was 'smack dab' in the middle of it.So taking that all into consideration on this recording we have the unique oppurtunity of hearing the master by himself,with the added pleasure of a perfectly tuned piano.One of great masters of the improvised line,along with his strikingly original harmonic ideas makes this a real treat.The tune list is a mixture of originals and standards such as 'I Should Care'(Weston/Stordahl),'Everything Happens to Me'(Dennis-Adair),and his own classic 'Ruby My Dear'.This comes highly recommended.
Health and Happiness

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An album treasure that goes well beyond, January 6, 2004

By 

D.U.I. - Donnie Understands Intelligence (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Solo Monk (Audio CD)

If I ever build a memory capsule with my children, for their children, this will be going down in it. I have 2 copies now, one un-opened, and one in heavy rotation in my multi disc carousel. This album far surpasses that of today's standard of music. From tracks 1 through 12, and on to the additional 9 tracks, the album has no flaws.
"Monk's Point" demonstrates his uncanny ability to show us the way and keep us on the path to solemn and effecient music.The many cultural overtones presented on this album are that of a musical visionary, who not only knew how to perform music, but to live music.
At only 24 years old myself, as well being an actor and a singer, this album has shown me, the real pleasures in life; and that is being as he once was. In as many places at the same time, and not leaving the comforts of your own home. This is pure delight.