The Man I Love [Take 2] - Thelonious Monk, Gershwin, George
No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: MONK,THELONIOUS
Title: COMPLETE PRESTIGE RECORDINGS
Street Release Date: 08/08/2000
No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: MONK,THELONIOUS
Title: COMPLETE PRESTIGE RECORDINGS
Street Release Date: 08/08/2000
CD Reviews
A thick, tasteful slice of monk's early recordings
Todd Ebert | Long Beach California | 09/26/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm a bit surprised this box set has not received more enthusiastic attention. First off, it contains all original recordings (unlike some of Monk's Columbia recordings), and the list of classic Monk tunes reads long, including Monk's Dream, Hackensack, Nutty, Bemsha Swing, and Trinkle Tinkle. The first CD even has some very early tracks of Monk playing with none other than Coleman Hawkins: a very rare nostalgic treat despite the subpar sound quality of those sessions. In between that beginning and the final cd of Monk playing with Miles and Milt Jackson (on the classic "Bag's Groove" recording), there are many good tunes played with bands featuring amoung others the likes of Sonny Rollins, Percy Heath, Max Roach, Art Blakey, and Frank Foster. Moreover, these recordings are truely representative of the classic Monk sound that made him so unique and eventually world famous. And 50 years later the music still sounds just as fresh and quirky, partly because Monk was so unique that few would dare or have the imagination to imitate him. One of the few musicians who exercised his full right to artistic freedom."
The High Priest
Todd Ebert | 11/26/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The sessions with Art Blakey that include tunes like "Hacken- sack" and the Latino blue "Bye-Ya" are superb, with bassist Percy Heath contributing a steady thump on several of these sessions. The '44 Coleman Hawkins sessions have bad sound but great soloing from Hawkins. The star however is a young Sonny Rollins turning it out on "Think of One". Monk's playing always sounds cutting-edge never 48 years old. This is crucial hard bop from a crew of super geniuses."
Marvelous Monk
Stuart Vaile | Reston, VA United States | 10/06/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Monk's years at Prestige are often overlooked, in comparison with the attention given to his Riverside and Columbia years. This well-priced collection offers wonderful selections with Sonny Rollins, Art Blakey, Colman Hawkins and Max Roach. The real gem here is disc 3, containing the famous Christmas Eve 1954 session with Miles and Milt Jackson. The 20-Bit remastering is truly outstanding!!! In fact, if they ever re-do the pricey Riverside Box in this mannor, I may just have to buy that as well!!! Wonderful stuff....."
Essential Monk
J. Rich | 04/08/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Anyone curious about Thelonious Monk would be very interested in aquiring this 1952-1954 Prestige box set. For one thing, this is his complete recordings for Prestige already put together and digitally remastered with great new liner notes about the recording sessions for each album. I have never been this happy and pleased with a box set since I bought Bill Evans - "The Complete Village Vanguard Recordings, 1961."
Like many of the reviewers have stated already, Monk absolutely rips the keys apart on many of these tunes. It is by far one of the best representations of his piano playing than any other box set. Everything here is simply ear candy.
Here are all the musicans that appear on this box set: Coleman Hawkins, Sonny Rollins, Frank Foster (tenor saxophone); Miles Davis, Ray Copeland (trumpet);Julius Watkins (French horn); Milt Jackson (vibraphone); Gary Mapp, Tommy Potter, Edward "Bass" Robinson, Curly Russell (bass); and Art Taylor, Denzil Best, Kenny Clarke, Willie Jones, Max Roach (drums).
Instead of buying these records individually, I would recommend going ahead and putting the money toward this set. I would also recommend this box set to anyone interested in hearing one of the true innovators of jazz.
This set also contains the only other version of one of my favorite Monk compositions "Locomotive," which also appears years later on his Columbia album "Straight, No Chaser."
If you like smoking piano jazz, then buy this today.
"
Monk's Prestige Quickie
Edwin W. Skinner, Jr. | Rocky Mount, NC | 06/22/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Thelonious Monk recorded for Prestige in between stints with Blue Note & Riverside. The Blue Note stuff is special because they are some of Monk's earliest recordings; the Riverside because they are comprised of some of Monk's best recordings, from what is arguably his most creative period.
The "odd man out" in Monk's catalogue are the Prestige recordings. There are only 3 discs to this often-downplayed period in Monk's career, but the recordings are - like most everything Monk did - excellent. Working with greats like Sonny Rollins & Miles Davis, Monk tackles, for the most part, tunes penned by other writers. Only 15 originals are in this set, but that's part of the Prestige material's charm.
24-bit remastering and neat packaging with excellent liner notes, this is an excellent companion to the Blue Note, Riverside & London material. If you're a big Monk fan, these discs belong in your collection."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1