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Chime in jazz aficionados

alienprophet

alienprophet

Super Member
Okay so I have recently discovered Thelonious Monk and I am completely mesmerized by this mans music. So far I have purchased "The Essential" compilation and "Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 1964".

While browsing the catalog on allmusic.com the choices are overwhelming. So any Monk fans that can tell me the "have to have" albums. So you know, I collect LP, CD, SACD, DVDA, BR.

Thanks.
 
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Congrats on your new discovery.

I love everything he ever did, so many great albums. Here's a few to watch out for.



Monk's Music

Monkmusic.jpg



Criss Cross

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Brilliant Corners

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Monk's Dream

TheloniuosMonkMonksDream.jpg



Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane


TheloniousMonkwithJohnColtrane-1.jpg
 
I won't take away from Bob's choices, you should also be aware that he is a Monk pro. I will simply add one album which I love...

Thelonious+Monk+-+Thelonious+Monk+Plays+Duke+Ellington+-+LP+RECORD-446129.jpg


Thelonious Monk Plays Duke Ellington
 
KevinCorr said:
I love Monk too. Sometimes I don't agree with reviewers, writers but Scott Yanow is one that I trust and agree with a lot:

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/thelonious-monk-mn0000490416/discography
Click to expand...

allmusic is a great website and is where I started on this. However when I looked at Monks catalog it was a bit overwhelming. So many albums and so much repetition. So I was looking for the "have to haves" that a noob should concentrate on before branching out. Thanks for your input.
 
Monk is a tough one. There's so much great music there. I personally think that all of his Columbia and Riverside stuff is essential for the most part.
The live albums are hit/miss for me. I chalk it up to personal taste, and would suggest a "listen before buying" type of thing with those.
I'm not sure where it is price-wise these days, but the SACD of Straight, No Chaser is great.
Miles Davis And The Modern Jazz Giants is worth a look.

All of the previous suggestions are solid, IMO. I've been in a bit a Duke mood yesterday and today, I think I might even spin that Plays Ellington album.

Also keep in mind that a lot of the late 90s/2000s Sony reissue CDs have unedited tracks(compare to the original LP version), and bonus tracks. This is true for Monk. It can be argued how essential they are, but I'm a big fan of what Sony put together with that series. And I know I'll take my Straight, No Chaser, with it's unedited tracks, all day long.

Enjoy the ride, Monk is gold.
And pay no mind to the repetition. If anybody could redo a tune a few times and make it worthy, Monk is near the top of the list, IMO.:thmbsp:
 
A couple of my Monk favorites are Genius of Modern Music Vol. I, and Work!
 

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After listening to the first two CDs of the Complete Prestige Recordings, I'm going to revise my list. Consider looking for it instead of just that Miles' title I mentioned.
I would still go after the Riverside and Columbia titles first, personally, but I forgot how much good music is on that little set.
 
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This was the first album on witch I heard Monk, it realy gets you from Rollin's pick up to "The Way you Look Tonight" through the Monk original "Friday the Thirteenth" a must listen!
 
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