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Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall
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Product Details/SpecificationsRecording label: Blue Note Records EAN: 0094633517325Binding: Audio CDFormat: Live, Release Date: 2005-09-27Universal product code (UPC): 094633517325Number of discs: 1Album Description
Australian pressing. This never-before heard jazz classic documents one of the most historically important working bands in all of Jazz history, a band that was both short-lived and, until now, thought to be frustratingly under-recorded. The concert, which took place at the famed New York hall on November 29, 1957, was preserved on newly-discovered tapes made by Voice of America for a later radio broadcast that were located at the Library of Congress in Washington DC earlier this year. Blue Note. 2005.
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Every year sees a crop of newly found jazz gems, but rarely are listeners treated to anything as special as this 1957 concert recording of Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane, which was accidentally discovered in an unmarked box by a Library of Congress engineer early in 2005. Until now, fans could only dream of hearing these two immortals play together beyond the three studio tracks they left behind. But here they are, hitting their stride at an all-star benefit concert, basking in the chemistry they had developed in Monk's quartet during the preceding weeks at New York's Five Spot. Coltrane's playing is a revelation. He's both an inspired accompanist and a galvanizing soloist, taking the music to new heights with his bold, brilliantly challenging, and sometimes jaw-dropping phrases, note clusters, and blasts of power. Sharing with Coltrane a newfound sense of freedom following the personal and professional troubles that had plagued them both, Monk is clearly tickled to be in the tenorist's presence, injecting humorous commentaries and otherwise asserting his eccentric genius as a pianist. The material, which was very well recorded by the Voice of America, includes Monk classics like "Epistrophy," "Monk's Moods," and "Evidence," as well as a striking rendition of the standard "Sweet and Lovely." This is music that not only bears repeated listenings, but also demands them--the ultimate definition of a classic. --Lloyd Sachs
Thelonius Monk and John ColtraneReview Date: 2010-02-04 Rating: 10 out of 10The two title names whould be enough, and thank God for remastering! It doesn't even take a jazz fan to appreciate the artistry and musicality of this recording.
ReviewsDefinitive JazzReview Date: 2009-11-11 Rating: 10 out of 10At last I have found accessible jazz. I have been looking for something like this for years. Always wanted to listen to some jazz but was unlucky with the selections. This is perfect. Just pop on the CD and kick back and relax.Really MovingReview Date: 2009-10-31 Rating: 8 out of 10To think that this recording was made 50 years ago is just astounding. The ideas still sound new and alive. Pure magic. I do not have deep knowledge of jazz. Despite this, this recording is really accessible to me.Great Jazz!Review Date: 2009-09-19 Rating: 10 out of 10This is a great collection. The sound quality is better than I expected, considering it was recorded live in the 50's (using 50's equipment). Guess that says something for the acoustics at Carnegie Hall. Monk, Coltrane and the rest of the quartet are excellent. Let's hear it for the Library of Congress folks who found this tape buried away and resurrected it! Absolutely amazingReview Date: 2009-03-31 Rating: 10 out of 10Jazz has always had a great mix of structure and improvisation. I personally love how jazz has several incredible compositions, and then the musicians jam to them. I love how the focus is on both the playing and the compositions. I feel that when it comes to live jazz albums, this album is high up on the list of albums.
For a lot of concerts, people go to the show and they're regularly socializing and hanging out. Carnegie Hall is one of those venues where people are meant to sit and listen to the music. I was at a concert with several bands that my friends were in, and one of my friends commented on how I was one of the only people sitting in the front and actually listening to the music while others were just socializing. There was actually a pool table set up for people to play a game of pool during the show.
Carnegie Hall, however, was a venue meant primarily for classical music and made with great acoustics. They also had a really nice grand piano that Thelonious Monk got to play. Although one of his favorite things to do is find all of the notes that are out of tune, and play those notes more for effect. What he really does is not play out of tune pianos, but he looks at what he can do with what piano he has that he can't do with another. He definitely sounds glad that he's playing a grand piano meant for classical musicians.
Getting John Coltrane added is great because he's the most well-known saxophonist in jazz, and he is a wonderful saxophone player. He might not have the technical skills that Kenny G. has, but he has much more color in his playing, and his improvisation sounds much better.
They had Ahmed Abdul-Malik on bass and Shadow Wilson on drums. These two had played with several other musicians, like most jazz bass players and drummers, and also like most bass players and drummers, they're able to just go and play with a complete different band. That's one of the great aspects about jazz, that people can have never played any of these songs together, but they're able to just pull out a lead sheet and perform a tune like they've been playing these tunes together for years.
One of my favorite parts of jazz is that when musicians perform together, they all have great discussions and conversations with each other, not of words, but of emotions and atmospheres, and although the listeners aren't part of it, they enjoy listening to it. You can also tell that the musicians are having a great time.
Having the mix of John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk really is what says it all, and then add that this album is at Carnegie Hall already makes you think "this must be good," and this is one of those times where it isn't a disappointment.
The complaint that several people might have is that the second performance of "Epistrophy" is only partial, but they already did a performance of the song earlier on. I think that it works really well that way as an album. I also like how this is an unedited live album. There was probably some remixing on things, but they didn't delete anything or do any overdubs. I think that all that they did was take out part of the second performance of "Epistrophy."
Thelonious Monk is an incredible composer and piano player, and with the help of John Coltrane, and one of the greatest rhythm sections, this album is a must-have. One of the best parts of this album is that they're all having a great time, and it really comes out in the music.
Brand: MONK,THELONIOUSDisc 1 Tracks: 1. Monk's Mood2. Evidence3. Crepuscule with Nellie4. Nutty5. Epistrophy6. Bye-Ya7. Sweet and Lovely8. Blue Monk9. Epistrophy [Incomplete Take]Publishers: Blue Note Records
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