Search - Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane :: Thelonious Monk With John Coltrane (20 Bit Mastering)

In My Top 20

J. Shea | 12/01/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yes it's me again, and this is one of the 20 I am keeping as I begin giving my vinyl to the young'uns.



I'm obviously not alone in my estimate of this recording. So I won't re-hash so much of what has been said except to add that "Nutty", "Epistrophy" and "Trinkle Tinkle" are so unique and powerful that, if recorded today, they would generate the same level of admiration and controversy. Monk remains one of the most polarizing musicians in any genre. From my first hearing (the Paris solo disc from the mid-50's) I loved his music, and I believe his uncompromising vision and delivery helped Coltrane recognize his full potential. For me, this is one of very few recordings that summarize 'jazz': it's a little rough around the edges; almost incredibly facile musical communication; unapologetic in the certainty of the players' musical statements; and great fun to listen to. It's playing now, and while I've listended to it probably hundreds of times, it still sounds fresh and amazing.



If you like Monk and/or Coltrane, you will enjoy this a lot (and the Carnegie recording is fine too!). If you like one but not the other, give it a listen - their differences work together well, and while Coltrane dominates a bit, it's Monk's music that provides the framework. If you don't like either or aren't sure, check out the YouTube clips and you will quickly know. Enjoy!



"

Largely leftovers from the Monk's Music session

Matthew Watters | Vietnam | 07/24/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Now that the Carnegie Hall performance by Monk and Trane is widely available, it's safe to knock this album off its pedestal a bit. Without denigrating any of the fine and lovely music herein, this album is really just alternative takes from the session that produced the tremendous Monk's Music album - which, if you haven't heard yet, you should drop what you are doing and go listen to forthwith. Meanwhile, Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane is padded out to full-album length with one spontaneous solo improvisation by Monk, here entitled "Functional". And that's what it is. It's as pleasant as all of Monk's solo piano musings, but rather themeless and shapeless. It's like they set the tape machine to running hoping Monk would come up with something ... but nothing really happened. That leaves just two tunes here that can't be heard elsewhere, "Trinkle Tinkle" and "Nutty", but that's a pretty slim basis for calling this a classic album, isn't it?"

Nostal-jazz!

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 08/07/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When Monk and Trane spent six months of 1957 working together at New York's Five Spot Café, it was an historic event which should have been exhaustively recorded. Who can deny it ?. But nonmusical conflicts avoided this dream was true, and this only performance still remains as supreme evidence of this magical encounter.



"Ruby my dear" finds in Trane and Monk an -until now- unequalled and insurmountable version. On the other hand, "Functional" shows us to Monk with his fresh and irresistible mood.



It's useless to capture the words that spice still more the meaning of this cult album.



A referential recording that must be placed in your honorable and treasured collection.



The encounter of two genius.

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