Thelonious Alone in San Francisco (Slip) [Original recording remastered]

Thelonious Monk | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 30, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 1959
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Riverside
• ASIN: B000AA4MKY
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #289,253 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Blue Monk

2. Ruby, My Dear

3. Round Lights

4. Everything Happens to Me

5. You Took the Words Right Out of My Heart

6. Bluehawk

7. Pannonica

8. Remember

9. There's Danger in Your Eyes, Cherie [2]

10. Reflections

11. There's Danger in Your Eyes, Cherie (Take 1) [*]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Echoing the 1st review, January 16, 2009

By 

Larry A. Helmeczy (Ithaca, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thelonious Alone in San Francisco (Slip) (Audio CD)

I've been overhauling some of my earlier jazz CD's with "remastered" versions. Some sound marginally better, some actually sound worse. I bought this one after reading the 1st review. I agree with everything he said. I'm amazed at how much better this version sounds over my previous copy. So, thanks, 1st reviewer.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fine solo piano recording., October 21, 2005

By 

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

This review is from: Thelonious Alone in San Francisco (Slip) (Audio CD)

"Thelonious Alone in San Francisco" was Thelonious Monk's third solo piano recording and really like its predecessor ("Thelonious Himself") is a superb record. Monk is recorded at Fugazi Hall in San Francisco (although without an audience) in October of 1959 and runs through ten selections-- six originals and four standards. What makes this recording so special in my mind is that between the odd acoustics of the hall and Monk's playing, the recording has a very "composer at the piano at home" feel to it-- Monk is relaxed, with a delicate touch and avoids almost all of the usual flourishes-- the descending scales, the stride sound, etc. It ends up being a moody and delicate little recording.

Blues are very heavily emphasized throughout-- several blues are played including two originals ("Round Lights" and "Bluehawk") that were never again recording (I suspect they were on-the-spot compositions as the themes are rather brief) and even old standbys like "Ruby, My Dear" and "Pannonica" have a bluesy undercurrent to them. Without the stride sound, the mood is almost lethargic, but the usual Monk guessing game as to how he's going to approach the pieces keep them interesting.

This reissue, like the rest of the Fantasy Jazz K2 issues (in the slip cases) features stunning sound-- a distinct and vast improvement over the previous issues of these recordings that can easily be noticed without audiophile sound systems or a discerning ear. Additionally, one alternate take augments the recordings and the original liner notes essay is included.

This is probably not quite the best solo Monk piece, but its a fine recording deserving of attention. Recommended.