Thelonious Monk discography

This information is based on my own collection and a lot of help from other collectors and fans.
Each list is in approximate recording date sequence. The reference numbers given are sometimes for LP's or cassettes, but most are for CD's. Some recordings have been re-issued several times on a variety of labels with different album titles, and most of the more recent releases are compilations. CD re-issues quite often include extra tracks. To avoid duplicates you should check the personnel information and recording dates.

Recommending any specific recordings is difficult, but I would suggest that a representative collection should include one of the trio recordings with Art Blakey, one of the solo recordings, something by the quartet with Charlie Rouse, a session with John Coltrane, and one of the big band recordings, (avoid 'Monk's Blues'- the Columbia 'Big Band and Quartet in Concert' double CD is the best.)
In addition to a basic collection of CD's, I recommend either the Warner Brothers movie "Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser", or the video documentary "Thelonious Monk - American Composer". They both include performances, interviews with his friends and family, plus footage shot backstage on the road and in the recording studio.

I recently contributed a listing of 25 Monk recordings for the latest edition of Laurent de Wilde's book "Monk".
The list was not intended to be Monk's "best" recordings, but a selection that would cover the full range of Monk's music. Some of the music is available on more than one release - so I recommend that you take the time to check the discography for complete details.

In addition to all the normal information you would expect - complete details about record labels, titles, personnel, and recording dates - these discographies also include links to dozens of record reviews, liner notes and other useful and interesting information about the listed recordings. Thanks to Steve Loomis for many of the reviews.

First is a complete list of albums sorted by record label. If you want all the detail on these recordings then you'll need to go to the following sections of the discography.

Part 1 of the discography lists the early recordings up to 1954. Monk didn't work regularly during this period - most of the recordings were originally for Blue Note or Prestige. Some of Blue Note recordings are being re-issued on the CEMA or Capitol label.

The second part includes the justifiably well known Riverside recordings, from 1955 to 1962. Monk was now getting the acclaim that was rightfully his. Riverside provided him with some excellent partners in the recording studio, and also made several 'live' recordings of Monk's current groups. These recordings are now available on OJC (Original Jazz Classics)

Part 3 has the Columbia / CBS records starting from 1962. Most of these albums, whether 'live performances' or in the studio, were with the quartet featuring Charlie Rouse on tenor. They are now being re-issued by Sony.

The fourth section is mostly for European or Japanese albums, usually recorded on tour outside the U.S. Most of them are live concert recordings made during the 1960's - this section includes a lot of 'bootlegs' which you probably won't be able to find in your local record store.

The first 4 discographies list Monk's own recordings, here is #5, a selection of tribute albums - Monk compositions recorded by other musicians.

A list of videotapes DVD's & laserdiscs. Including club and concert performances, interviews and documentaries.

There's a double CD released by Thelonious Records Inc. that doesn't really fit into any of the listed discographies. It's called "Monk the Transformer". Read about it here.

A list of sleeve or liner notes. The notes are also linked from the individual listings in the discographies.

Kenny Bullock has prepared a complete list of Thelonious Monk compositions together with references to some of Monk's own representative recordings.

In the 'Monk' issue of DU magazine - March 1994, several of the contributors chose their Top Ten Monk recordings.