Lookin' for Thelonious Monk recommendations....

[cwall99]

I have a decent-sized music collection. I'm sure it pales in comparison to most AK members, but it's good for me. I'm working on widening my horizons.

One of the directions I'm exploring is 50s and 60s jazz. In particular, I'm wanting to explore Thelonious Monk's music, and am hoping to pick up some recommendations.

So... please, lemme know what you think are the essential Thelonious Monk recordings!

 

[darkblue94]

This...

and this...

 

[Djcoolray]

I would Wikipedia the artist.....

There is a search bar on wiki that lets you search any artist. Then after you find the page, just after the introduction you will see right under it "CONTENTS"! Click on it, then click on "DISCOGRAPHY"!

You will have the entire history of that artist......good reading !

 

[thomo57]

I use rateyourmusic.
Look up the artist and his discography and read the reviews that people have posted

 

[darkblue94]

I've always liked this one.

 

[Beau Geste]

 

[Beau Geste]

 

[tubed]

 

[tubed]

 

[tubed]

 

[onepixel]

 

[oskaraleman]

Probably the first two I picked up were the Five Spot Cafe recordings from 1958: Misterioso & Thelonious In Action.

 

[KeninDC]

I started with Monk's Dream. Hard to go wrong with Monk.

 

[Zeego]

Brilliant Corners is amazing

 

[jgannon]

A couple of other LPs that are really great are these trio LPs on Riverside.

This is a reissue of both sessions.

 

[RT Fan]

The Essential Thelonious Monk would be a good jumping off point. I will second, plays Ellington, w/ Coltrane, Underground, aw heck just by as many as you can.

 

[jgannon]

The Monk with Coltrane album is amazing...

 

[KrisM]

Monk is a tough one. Except for a few duds, I think all of his stuff is essential. If you like Monk, you want all of it.
I'd start with the higher rated Riverside and Columbia albums, and then go from there.
The Prestige and Blue Note material is great, but maybe not the place to start.

 

[cwall99]

Thank you all!! I really appreciate both the links to sites where you can explore discographies and the ratings. I do have a thing for Duke Ellington (and covers of his work like Dr. John's Duke Elegant - his cover of I'm gonna go fishin' was one of those important songs that got me through my divorce 20 years ago).

Every journey starts with a single step, they say, and Thelonious Monk Plays Duke Ellington is looking like a good jumping off point (especially since I know the songs!! Or at least Ellington's versions).

But this is a list I'm sure I'll come back to time and time again.

Thanks again!!

 

[KrisM]

That Duke album is a fantastic place to start.
One of the best jazz composers playing the music of another of the best jazz composers? Can't go wrong.