Record Reviews

THELONIOUS MONK ~ THE COMPLETE RIVERSIDE RECORDINGS RIVERSIDE 888072360020 (Barcode: 888072360020) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1955 - 1961 Released: 2014 This magnificent Box Set compiles all the recordings by American Jazz pianist / composer / Prophet Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist made between 1955 and 1961 for the independent American RiversideFind albums on this label Records label, co-owned and led by the legendary record producer Orrin KeepnewsFind albums by this artist, who sadly died in March 2015. The fifteen CDs included in this Box Set contain some of the most important Jazz music ever recorded, by one of the greatest and most idiosyncratic figures on the American music scene. The music is arranged chronologically and includes thirty recording sessions with music ranging from solo piano performances to ensemble pieces, starring the crème de la crème of American Jazz musicians of the 1950s, including John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, Coleman HawkinsFind albums by this artist, Sonny RollinsFind albums by this artist and many others. Although usually associated with Bebop as one of its founding figures, Monk never really played Bebop as such and the association is mostly coincidental, since he started his career when Bebop erupted. In fact Monk always played only Monk, and that was it. His absolutely unique sense of rhythm (or rather the lack of it as we know it) and his weirdly twisted melody lines were his trademark and usually just a few notes are enough to identify him as a player. Riverside was Monk´s second label after his stint with Blue Note and before moving to Columbia, and it proved to be the most creative as far as his composing career is concerned. Except for a few standards played on the early Riverside sessions, most of the music in this Box Set comprises of Monk´s originals, which are all absolutely marvelous. The importance of Monk´s contribution to Jazz is of course his complete disregard of the "norm" and the consistent approach of following his own path. His music always sounded like nothing else around him and the musicians playing with him had to forget almost everything they knew about melody, harmony and rhythm and simply follow his lead. It´s hardly surprising that he was considered "difficult" and "noncooperative" by many people around him, which was intensified by his erratic personal behavior, but of course this is a problem with many extraordinary people. Sadly in Monk´s case his mental state deteriorated relatively early and he disappeared from the active musical life by early 1970s (he died in 1982), following his last appearances during the worldwide tour with the Giants Of Jazz, which I was lucky to hear live at the time. Therefore these sessions are even more invaluable, as they represent a large portion of his relatively short overall recording career. Every note played on these CDs is absolutely priceless and I can´t imagine any serious Jazz record collection not including this music in one form or another. This Box Set is the most comprehensive and the cheapest option to have it in your possession.

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: 29/12/2015

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