Customer Reviews

Unique Thelonious Monk

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

 

 

This is a beautiful set of standards played by the innovative, brilliant Monk. He displays a variety of styles, from the long melodic lines of Bill Evans to some power stylings recalling Mingus. Of course, there's the usual Monk dissonance and tempo variations (and these make even the tired "Tea for Two" sound fresh!), but this effort also shows Monk's strength on straight-ahead jazz as well.

There is a quiet poignancy to Monk's playing of "Darn That Dream," and the Razaf/Blake "Memories of You," but Monk also swings strongly on "Honeysuckle Rose (Razaf, Waller)." He's more boppish on Gershwin's "Liza," with a surprisingly fast interpretation, yet he remains always in control. Superb comping from Oscar Pettiford on bass and Art Blakey on drums on this song especially, and throughout (no surprise there!).

This is really a tremendous CD, highlighting Monk's virtuosity on many jazz piano styles (yet unmistakably "Monkish"). Sound quality is excellent. I recommend this highly both to Monk aficionados and those just getting into his uniquely wonderful style. But please, if you like this one, don't stop here... check out Monk's own compositions on "Genius of Modern Music," "Brilliant Corners," and other CDs available at Amazon!

Great trio work with a unique talent at the keys, but this is tempered by the fact that, while Monk had all those great pioneering original compositions written, when he signed with Riverside in 1955, producer Orrin Keepnews persuaded him to first record standards so he would appear more accessible to the average jazz fan. It's fascinating to here him interpret these well-known tunes in his inimitable way, and this may serve as a low-risk way for a newbie to check out Monk, but it's down the list of critical Monk CD's to begin building a collection with. "Brilliant Corners" or "Monk's Music" are better places to start for those bold enough to sample pure genius. Also, Pettiford and Blakey are excellent but fairly restrained here, as the purpose of this recording was to showcase Monk's playing. Still, if you love Monk and jazz standards, this is pure ear candy.

This recording was origionally released in 1955 and re-released in 1979 by Milestone Records along with "T. Monk Plays Duke Ellington" as "The Riverside Trios". This is aka Riverside #201, the Ellington recordings are Riverside #209. Both recordings complement each and were recorded in the mid fifties and gives new revival to the jazz of that time. A must addition to any jazz collection.

IF YOU'VE NEVER HEARD THELONIOUS BEFORE, THERE ISN'T MUCH BETTER OF A FIRST ALBUM TO GET. THIS IS THE FIRST LP OF HIS I BOUGHT AND I STILL LISTEN TO IT TODAY. THE WHOLE ALBUM HAS A WARM AND INCLUSIVE FEEL TO IT AND SHOWCASES SOME VERY SENSITIVE PLAYING (CHECK OUT THE BALLAD "MEMORIES OF YOU").

Got the vinyl release today (I think it's a new pressing? Amazon said it was a new release for Feb. 2012) and the label is wrong. The album cover and the actual music on the record are correct, but the label on the record itself is for "Mulligan Meets Monk (RLP 12-247)". Looks like the pressing plant made a mistake (?)

Anyway, the music is 5 stars. Just don't freak out if yours is mislabeled.

This is the only Thelonious Monk CD that I can listen to and I love. I like this CD because all the music on this have beautiful melody and structure.

'The Unique' was recorded in the spring of 1956 and 'Brilliant Corners' in the fall. I think this year marks a real breakthrough for Monk - I've been listening to the discography in chronological order, and I feel like this would be a good place for a transition from an 'early' period to 'middle' period for Monk.

He's here with Art Blakey on drums and Oscar Pettiford on bass, and it's all Monk, and he is masterful. It starts with a jaunty 'Liza, All The Clouds Will Roll Away', moving into a meditative, thoughtful, 'Memories of You'. 'Honeysuckle Rose' starts out peppy, almost old-timey, like if you transported Monk back to the 1930's for a minute, and then it just rolls. He's almost solo on 'Darn That Dream' and 'Tea for Two', where Pettiford does some nice bass work. Monk is all up and down the scales on 'You Are Too Beautiful', and he ends with 'Just You, Just Me', where he plays the piano like it was a set of drums.

Obviously, I can't pick a favorite here. Throw in the iconic postage stamp album art, and this is the earliest Monk album I can definitely describe as 'must have' for any jazz enthusiast.