Thelonious Monk

The Complete Riverside Recordings - RCD-022-2

This 15 CD set presents the entire existing output of the 30 occasions - studio sessions, plus club and concert location taping - on which Thelonious Monk recorded for Riverside. Covering the six-year span between 1955 and 1961 during which Thelonious first gained wide recognition, and regarded by many as his most vital creative period, it offers a striking sound picture of one of the most significant (and most colorful) figures in the entire history of jazz.

Presented in chronological order are 153 performances, including some partial takes and in-studio conversation that add to this unique portrait of genius in action. Altogether there are 14 previously unissued items, including two selections recorded at the Five Spot and a legendary abandoned session with drummer Shelly Manne.

The collection runs a gamut from unaccompanied solos to Monk's celebrated 1959 orchestra concert at Town Hall, with a total supporting cast that features many of the most important jazz artists of our time, including John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Art Blakey, Coleman Hawkins, Gerry Mulligan, Max Roach, Clark Terry, Thad Jones, Charlie Rouse, Johnny Griffin and Wilbur Ware.

complete
12944 SESSIONS 1 & 2
July 21 & July 27, 1955 - New Jersey
These were Monk's first sessions for Riverside, and the tracks were issued on the album "Thelonious Monk plays the music of Duke Ellington."
  • CD1/1 - It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got Swing) - 4'39
  • CD1/2 - Sophisticated Lady - 4'28
  • CD1/3 - I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) - 5'53
  • CD1/4 - Black And Tan Fantasy - 3'25
  • CD1/5 - Mood Indigo - 3'14
  • CD1/6 - I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart - 5'41
  • CD1/7 - Solitude. (solo) - 3'43
  • CD1/8 - Caravan - 5'55
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • Oscar Pettiford - bass.
  • Kenny Clarke - drums.
SESSION 3
March 17, 1956 - New York
 These tracks, together with the next recording session, were released as "The Unique Thelonious."
  • CD1/9 - Liza, All The Clouds'll Roll Away - 3'11
  • CD1/10 - Memories Of You. (solo) - 4'17
  • CD2/1 - You Are Too Beautiful - 4'55
  • CD2/2 - Just You, Just Me - 7'58
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • Oscar Pettiford - bass.
  • Art Blakey - drums.
SESSION 4
April 3, 1956 - New York
  • CD1/11 - Honeysuckle Rose - 5'31
  • CD1/12 - Darn That Dream - 6'29
  • CD1/13 - Tea For Two - 5'55
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • Oscar Pettiford - bass.
  • Art Blakey - drums.
SESSION 5
October 9, 1956 - New York
This was the first session for the "Brilliant Corners" album, one of the very best Monk albums.
  • CD2/3 - Ba-lue Bolivar Ba-lues-Are - 13'24
  • CD2/4 - Pannonica. (opening - previously unissued) - 2'35
  • CD2/5 - Pannonica - 8'50
  • Ernie Henry - alto.
  • Sonny Rollins - tenor.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano & celeste.
  • Oscar Pettiford - bass.
  • Max Roach - drums.
SESSION 6
October 15, 1956 - New York
This was a four hour recording session, and the piece was not played to completion. The track finally issued was pieced together from several different takes.
  • CD2/6 - Brilliant Corners - 7'46
  • Ernie Henry - alto.
  • Sonny Rollins - tenor.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano & celeste.
  • Oscar Pettiford - bass.
  • Max Roach - drums.
SESSION 7
December 7, 1956 - New York
Since the previous session, Ernie Henry had left Monk's quartet and re-joined the Dizzy Gillespie orchestra, he was replaced by Clark Terry; and due to problems between Monk and Oscar Pettiford, the bass player was replaced by Paul Chambers.
  • CD2/7 - Bemsha Swing - 7'50
  • CD2/8 - I Surrender, Dear. (solo) - 5'31
  • Clark Terry - trumpet.
  • Sonny Rollins - tenor.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • Paul Chambers - bass.
  • Max Roach - drums.
SESSION 8
April 5, 1957 - New York
These piano solo tracks were first issued on the album "Thelonious Himself." 		9705
  • CD3/1 - I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You. (take 5 issued only in Italy) - 4'12
  • CD3/2 - I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You. (original take 7) - 4'21
  • CD3/3 - I Should Care. (previously unissued take 1) - 3'28
  • CD3/4 - I Should Care. (take 2 issued only in Italy) - 3'19
  • CD3/5 - I Should Care. (original - take 3) - 3'13
  • CD3/6 - Round Midnight. (in progress) - 21'55
  • CD3/7 - Round Midnight. (original take 7) - 6'41
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
SESSION 9a
April 16, 1957 - New York
This session was part of the "Thelonious Himself." album
  • CD3/8 - April In Paris - 3'52
  • CD3/9 - I'm Getting Sentimental Over You - 4'04
  • CD4/1 - Functional. (alternate take 1) - 9'43
  • CD4/2 - Functional. (original take 2) - 9'18
  • CD4/3 - All Alone - 4'51
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
SESSION 9b
April 16, 1957 - New York
Monk wanted this track to be included on the LP "Thelonious Himself." John Coltrane came in from Philadelphia just to record this one track.
  • CD3/10 - Monk's Mood. (previously unissued false start) - 0'57
  • CD3/11 - Monk's Mood - 7'52
  • John Coltrane - tenor.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • Wilbur Ware - bass.
  • Shadow Wilson - drums.
SESSION 10
June 25, 1957 - New York
The unsuccessful first day of a two day recording session that would produce one of Monk's best albums.
  • CD4/4 - Crepuscule With Nellie. (previously unissued take 1) - 4'34
  • CD4/5 - Crepuscule With Nellie. (breakdown previously unissued) - 1'01
  • CD4/6 - Blues For Tomorrow. (no piano) - 13'32
  • Ray Copeland - trumpet.
  • Gigi Gryce - alto.
  • Coleman Hawkins - tenor.
  • John Coltrane - tenor.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • Wilbur Ware - bass.
  • Art Blakey - drums.
SESSION 11
June 26, 1957 - New York
This session produced the excellent "Monk's Music" album, generally recognised to be one of Monk's best.
  • CD4/7 - Off Minor. (alternate take 4) - 5'14
  • CD4/8 - Off Minor. (original take 5) - 5'08
  • CD4/9 - Abide With Me. (horns only) - 0'53
  • CD4/10 - Crepuscule With Nellie. (previously unissued takes 4/5) - 4'46
  • CD4/11 - Crepuscule With Nellie. (original take 6) - 4'39
  • CD5/1 - Epistrophy. (fragment) - 1'46
  • CD5/2 - Epistrophy - 10'45
  • CD5/3 - Well, You Needn't. (opening prev. unissued) - 1'25
  • CD5/4 - Well, You Needn't - 11.23
  • CD5/5 - Ruby, My Dear. (quartet with Coleman Hawkins) - 5'25
  • Ray Copeland - trumpet.
  • Gigi Gryce - alto.
  • Coleman Hawkins - tenor.
  • John Coltrane - tenor.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • Wilbur Ware - bass.
  • Art Blakey - drums.
SESSION 12
July, 1957 - New York
These three tracks, together with some alternate takes from the "Monk's Music" session were first released on Jazzland as "Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane." Coltrane was part of Monk's regular quartet at this time, (a live recording of this short-lived quartet is available on Blue Note.)
  • CD5/6 - Ruby, My Dear. (with John Coltrane) - 6'19
  • CD5/7 - Nutty - 6'36
  • CD5/8 - Trinkle, Tinkle - 6'39
  • John Coltrane - tenor.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • Wilbur Ware - bass.
  • Shadow Wilson - drums.
6206SESSION 13
August 12, 1957 - New York
The group recorded here was Monk's regular quartet which was appearing at "The Five Spot" but with Gerry Mulligan replacing Coltrane.
  • CD5/9 - Straight, No Chaser. (alternate take 1) - 5'27
  • CD5/10 - Straight, No Chaser. (original take 3) - 6'58
  • CD5/11 - Rhythm-a-ning - 5'19
  • CD6/1 - I Mean You. (alternate take 1) - 6'22
  • CD6/2 - I Mean You. (alternate take 2) - 6'31
  • CD6/3 - I Mean You. (original take 4) - 6'51
  • Gerry Mulligan - baritone.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • Wilbur Ware - bass.
  • Shadow Wilson - drums.
SESSION 14
August 13, 1957 - New York
The original plan was to record a a larger more formal group including several horns, but the initial session with what might have seemed to be an unlikely combination went so well that the album was completed with the original quartet line up.
  • CD6/4 - Round Midnight - 8'27
  • CD6/5 - Decidedly. (original stereo take 4) - 5'52
  • CD6/6 - Decidedly. (original mono take 5) - 6'35
  • CD6/7 - Sweet And Lovely - 7'15
  • Gerry Mulligan - baritone.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • Wilbur Ware - bass.
  • Shadow Wilson - drums.
SESSION 15
February 25, 1958
This one track is the result of a largely nonproductive session, originally planned to include Sonny Rollins and Johnny Griffin. After recording the one tune Monk decided that he would not continue with this line up. One of the problems was Wilbur Ware's insistence that the bass part was unplayable.
  • CD6/8 - Coming On The Hudson - 6'03
  • Donald Byrd - trumpet.
  • Johnny Griffin - tenor.
  • Pepper Adams - baritone.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • Wilbur Ware - bass.
  • Philly Joe Jones - drums.
SESSIONS 16 & 17
May 7 & 12, 1958 - New York
This session was made, and released under Clark Terry's name, with Thelonious playing as a 'sideman' on the date.
  • CD6/9 - In Orbit - 4'04
  • CD6/10 - One Foot In The Gutter - 7'20
  • CD7/1 - Trust In Me - 4'31
  • CD7/2 - Let's Cool One - 4'55
  • CD7/3 - Pea Eye - 4'29
  • CD7/4 - Argentia - 6'12
  • CD7/5 - Moonlight Fiesta - 2'34
  • CD7/6 - Buck's Business - 3'22
  • CD7/7 - Flugelin' The Blues - 7'01
  • CD7/8 - Very Near Blue - 3'04
  • Clark Terry - flugelhorn.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • Sam Jones - bass.
  • Philly Joe Jones - drums.
SESSION 18a
July 9, 1958 - New York
A live recording by the Thelonious Monk quartet recorded at "The Five Spot" in New York.
  • CD7/9 - Evidence. (previously unissued) - 10'15
  • CD7/10 - Blues Five Spot - 9'54
  • CD7/11 - In Walked Bud / Epistrophy. (theme) - 10'57
  • CD8/1 - Unidentified piano solo - 1'54
  • CD8/2 - Round Midnight - 6.15
  • Johnny Griffin - tenor.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • Ahmed Abdul-Malik - bass.
  • Roy Haynes - drums.
SESSION 18b
July 9, 1958 - New York
Recorded at "The Five Spot" with Art Blakey 'sitting in' for Roy Haynes.
  • CD8/3 - Bye-Ya / Epistrophy. (theme) (prev. unissued) - 11'54
  • Johnny Griffin - tenor.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • Ahmed Abdul-Malik - bass.
  • Art Blakey - drums.
SESSION 19
August 7, 1958 - New York
A live recording from "The Five Spot", this session resulted in two excellent albums, "Misterioso" and "Thelonious in Action". 		10910
  • CD8/4 - Light Blue - 5'14
  • CD8/5 - Coming On The Hudson - 5'23
  • CD8/6 - Rhythm-a-ning - 9'28
  • CD8/7 - Just A Gigolo. (solo) - 2'08
  • CD8/8 - Blue Monk - 8'29
  • CD8/9 - Evidence - 8'45
  • CD8/10 - Epistrophy. (theme) - 1'07
  • CD9/1 - Nutty - 5'23
  • CD9/2 - Blues Five Spot - 8'12
  • CD9/3 - Let's Cool One - 9'15
  • CD9/4 - In Walked Bud - 11'20
  • CD9/5 - Misterioso - 10'47
  • CD9/6 - Epistrophy. (theme #2) - 1'04
  • Johnny Griffin - tenor.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • Ahmed Abdul-Malik - bass.
  • Roy Haynes - drums.
SESSION 20a
February 28, 1959 - New York
These quartet tracks were taped in order to get the microphone balances set for the evening's advertised orchestral concert.
  • CD9/7 - In Walked Bud - 7'08
  • CD9/8 - Blue Monk - 8'21
  • CD10/1 - Rhythm-a-ning - 6'52
  • Charlie Rouse - tenor.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • Sam Jones - bass.
  • Art Taylor - drums.
SESSION 20b
February 28, 1959 - New York
These orchestral arrangements were by Hall Overton, in close co-operation with the composer. Long detailed rehearsals, rigorously supervised by Thelonious, resulted in a triumphant night and a memorable album "The Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall."
  • CD10/2 - Monk's Mood - 10'21
  • CD10/3 - Friday The 13th - 9'30
  • CD10/4 - Little Rootie Tootie - 8'52
  • CD10/5 - Off Minor - 7'50
  • CD10/6 - Thelonious - 3'03
  • CD10/7 - Crepuscule With Nellie - 4'50
  • CD10/8 - Little Rootie Tootie. (encore) - 8'30
  • Donald Byrd - trumpet.
  • Eddie Bert - trombone.
  • Phil Woods - alto.
  • Charlie Rouse - tenor.
  • Pepper Adams - baritone.
  • Robert Northern - french-horn.
  • Jay McAllister - tuba.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • Sam Jones - bass.
  • Art Taylor - drums.
  • Hall Overton - arranger.
SESSION 21
June 1, 1959 - New York
The group recorded here was made up of Monk's regular working quartet plus Thad Jones.
  • CD11/1 - Played Twice. (2nd alternate take 1) - 6'57
  • CD11/2 - Played Twice. (alternate take 2) - 7'54
  • CD11/3 - Played Twice. (original take 3) - 8'00
  • Thad Jones - cornet.
  • Charlie Rouse - tenor.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • Sam Jones - bass.
  • Art Taylor - drums.
SESSION 22
June 2, 1959 - New York
This was the second session for the "Five by Monk by Five" album. At the end of the session Orrin Keepnews requested another number to fill out the album, and another session had to be called.
  • CD11/4 - Straight, No Chaser - 9'22
  • CD11/5 - Ask Me Now - 10'47
  • CD11/6 - I Mean You - 9'49
  • Thad Jones - cornet.
  • Charlie Rouse - tenor.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • Sam Jones - bass.
  • Art Taylor - drums.
SESSION 23
June 4, 1959 - New York
Together with the output from the previous two sessions, this new work was released on "Five by Monk by Five", Monk's tenth album for Riverside.
  • CD11/7 - Jackie-ing - 6'07
  • Thad Jones - cornet.
  • Charlie Rouse - tenor.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • Sam Jones - bass.
  • Art Taylor - drums.
San FranciscoSESSION 24
October 21, 1959 - San Francisco
Thelonious was in San Francisco to appear for the first time with his regular quartet, and it was decided to make a follow up to the impressive "Thelonious Himself" solo album from 1957.
  • CD11/8 - Round Lights - 3'36
  • CD11/9 - Pannonica - 3'52
  • CD11/10 - Blue Monk - 3'43
  • CD12/1 - Ruby, My Dear - 3'59
  • CD12/2 - There's Danger In Your Eyes, Cherie. (alternate take 1) - 4'05
  • CD12/3 - There's Danger In Your Eyes, Cherie. (original take 2) - 4'20
  • CD12/4 - Everything Happens To Me - 5'39
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
SESSION 25
October 22, 1959 - San Francisco
The tracks from these two days were issued as "Thelonious Alone in San Francisco."
  • CD12/5 - Reflections - 5'07
  • CD12/6 - Remember - 2'43
  • CD12/7 - Bluehawk - 3'38
  • CD12/8 - You Took The Words Right Out Of My Heart - 4'02
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
SESSION 26
April 28, 1960 - San Francisco
This illfated session was the result of an attempt to pair two important jazz musicians of the day, Thelonious Monk and Shelly Manne.
  • CD12/9 - San Francisco Holiday. (previously unissued) - 8'50
  • CD12/10 - Just You, Just Me. (previously unissued) - 7'09
  • Joe Gordon - trumpet.
  • Harold Land - tenor.
  • Charlie Rouse - tenor.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • John Ore - bass.
  • Shelly Manne - drums.
SESSION 27
April 29, 1960 - San Francisco
This continuation from the previous day ended when Shelly asked to be excused from the session, he knew it wasn't happening well enough and thought the proper thing to do was to stop.
  • CD12/11 - Round Midnight. (previously unissued) - 7'53
  • Joe Gordon - trumpet.
  • Harold Land - tenor.
  • Charlie Rouse - tenor.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • John Ore - bass.
  • Shelly Manne - drums.
SESSION 28
April 29, 1960 - San Francisco
This session was put together at the last minute to salvage the unfortunate collaboration of the afternoon and previous day. Joe Gordon and Harold Land were added to the regular quartet which now included Billy Higgins who had previously played drums with the Ornette Coleman group. This was the last session that Monk recorded for Riverside.
  • CD12/12 - San Francisco Holiday. (alternate take 2) - 8'31
  • CD13/1 - I'm Getting Sentimental Over You - 6'12
  • CD13/2 - Evidence - 7'07
  • CD13/3 - Epistrophy. (theme) - 1'02
  • CD13/4 - Epistrophy - 6'39
  • CD13/5 - Four In One. (previous unissued take 1) - 7'34
  • CD13/6 - Let's Call This - 8'34
  • CD13/7 - Round Midnight - 12'05
  • CD13/8 - San Francisco Holiday (Worry Later) (original take 3) - 9'09
  • CD13/9 - Four In One. (original take 2) - 8'42
  • CD13/10 - Epistrophy. (theme) (previously unissued) - 1'15
  • Joe Gordon - trumpet.
  • Harold Land - tenor.
  • Charlie Rouse - tenor.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • John Ore - bass.
  • Billy Higgins - drums.
SESSION 29
April 18, 1961 - Paris
The two concert sessions recorded in Europe were not produced by Riverside, but were acquired as a way of closing out their association with Thelonious. 		7619
  • CD14/1 - Well, You Needn't - 11'30
  • CD14/2 - Crepuscule With Nellie - 2'39
  • CD14/3 - Jackie-ing - 10'11
  • CD14/4 - Body And Soul. (solo) - 2'47
  • CD14/5 - Off Minor - 11'41
  • CD14/6 - April In Paris. (solo) - 1'19
  • CD14/7 - I Mean You - 11'02
  • CD14/8 - Rhythm-A-Ning - 10'37
  • CD14/9 - Just A Gigolo. (solo) - 1'45
  • CD15/1 - Hackensack - 9'46
  • CD15/2 - Epistrophy - 6'12
  • CD15/3 - I'm Getting Sentimental Over You - 8'33
  • Charlie Rouse - tenor.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • John Ore - bass.
  • Frankie Dunlop - drums.
SESSION 30
April 21, 1961 - Milan
These concert recordings showcase the quartet in fine form, the group had been playing together for a year or so and had become particularly well integrated.
  • CD15/4 - Jackie-ing - 4'53
  • CD15/5 - Body And Soul. (solo) - 4'48
  • CD15/6 - Straight, No Chaser - 9'03
  • CD15/7 - Crepuscule With Nellie - 2'42
  • CD15/8 - Bemsha Swing - 6'56
  • CD15/9 - San Francisco Holiday - 5'57
  • CD15/10 - Rhythm-A-Ning - 5'47
  • CD15/11 - Epistrophy - 5'03
  • Charlie Rouse - tenor.
  • Thelonious Monk - piano.
  • John Ore - bass.
  • Frankie Dunlop - drums.
"The compilation of this collection of recordings has been one of the proudest achievements of my many years as a jazz producer. Thelonious Monk was one of the most significant artists in the entire history of our music. I valued greatly the unique opportunity of working with him during a half-dozen of his most creative years, and appreciated being able to put together this full retrospective view of our entire association."

Orrin Keepnews