Customer Reviews

Solo Monk

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

 

 

I grew up on this album. Not only would I say that this is my favorite Monk album, but probably my favorite album of all time. Charming, romantic, completely enchanting. Whether you bounce or bob your head to Monk's cover of "Dinah" or almost crying listening to the heart-wrenching chords in "Ruby, My Dear," you can't go wrong with this record. I have an old copy which has actually not burned out, even after about 1000 listens or so. You can also now buy MONK ALONE: THE COMPLETE SOLO RECORDINGS ON COLUMBIA...amazon.com would like that....it costs more......but it also has those little solo bites on other albums, like the beautiful performance of "Sweetheart of All My Dreams" from the hard-to-find-now-eliminated-from-the-Columbia-catalog-album MONK. But wherever you find this music, it doesn't matter. It will always be the same.

this is my favorite monk album. most of the songs come in under 3 minutes, all gems. they will cut you straight to the heart. when people call this album 'light' i think immediately of "i should care": it always moves me, the silences are so expressive, and i don't know what it means to call it light except in the sense that that the *silences* are so expressive. "north of the sunset" and "monk's point" are the sort of good natured, funny, oddly-shaped tunes unique to monk. the rest are lovely too.

there are lots of other solo monk albums - i like "alone in san francisco" alot - but like i said this album is my favorite and i recommend it.

Some critics say Theronious Monk is a pianist who does not have a professional technique... But I disagree. The simplicity of Monk's expression in his solo performance comes from his 'purity' but not from the 'immaturity'. You must not be confused. There is no modern jazz pianist who is not influenced from Monk. Monk is also one of the greatest composer. When Monk becomes alone, he becomes 'real Monk'. This CD is a great example of 'real Monk'.

Though there are several Monk releases that I would rank over Solo Monk, I find this as a greatly satisfying effort. Monk's unique talents shine in this unaccompanied setting. If you ever find yourself smiling at Monk in a group setting, you owe it to yourself to investigate this one.

There's a certain purity to solo Monk that demands careful listening. The absolute command of the displaced mischord, the rhythmic virtuosity of the playing and interpretations or improvisations (if you will) of these standards (mostly) is joyous. You do know that you are in the hearing of a master when you listen to Monk. Listen to a Monk composition like "Ruby, My Dear" and you hear the perfect linearity of Monk's compositions, and then follow it with "I'm Confessing (That I Love You)" and you hear the commanding voice as he turns the song inside out. In this collection Monk moves from "standards" to originals within his own voice--perhaps the unique voice in modern music. Quirky but correct. Monk is simple in some respects, but he's never superficial. It's the surprise that captivates here. Monk's not a technical virtuoso. He is, however, a consumate master musician. This disc is a fine selection of Monk during the 1964-65 phase of his Columbia experience. But the other solo discs on Riverside are equally rewarding finds. Don't miss any of them.

Monk takes on both Tin Pan Alley and those who say he's a great composer but a lousy player. "Ask me now" is heart-tugging; "Everything happens to me" is sad and funny both; "Ruby My Dear" loses little without bass and drums. The liner notes tell you this is the best Monk album -- it's not, but the off-beat phrasing, the trinkly right-handed trills and the sense of drama (sometimes facetious) makes you believe that Monk can PLAY! He got game!

Everything this man did was beautiful even his bowel movements.

A classic.