Genius of Modern Music

THE FRANCIS WOLFF COLLECTION

2-CD SET - 4 PANEL DIGIPACK

5 STARS ALL MUSIC GUIDE

Although there are some earlier informal testimonies of Thelonious Monk’s playing, his recording career truly started when he began working for Alfred Lion’s Blue Note label in 1947. The Blue Note dates, containing the earliest versions of Monk’s most brilliant compositions, appeared on the albums Genius of Modern Music Vol.1 & Vol.2 (Blue Note BLP-1510/1511).

This release brings together Monk’s master takes from all of his Blue Note sessions, also including two extended tunes from a 1957 Sonny Rollins date. A magnificent 1955 quartet date coled by Monk and alto saxophonist Gigi Gryce, and four unaccompanied piano versions by Monk of compositions he had first recorded for Blue Note, have been added as a bonus.

THELONIOUS MONK, piano on all tracks, plus:

Collective personnel:

Sahib Shihab, Lou Donaldson (as),
Lucky Thompson, Sonny Rollins (ts)
Kenny Dorham, Idrees Sulieman (tp),
Milt Jackson (vibes), Gene Ramey Paul Chambers (b),
Art Blakey, Max Roach (d), among others.

Recorded in New York between 1947 and 1957."

BONUS TRACKS (CD 2, 11-14):

i Gryce (as), Thelonious Monk (p),
Percy Heath (b), Art Blakey (d). New York, October 15, 1955.

CD 1: TOTAL TIME: 75:51 Min:

01 Humph
02 Evonce
03 Suburban Eyes
04 Thelonious
05 Nice Work If You Can Get It
06 Ruby My Dear
07 Well You Needn’t
08 April in Paris
09 Off Minor
10 Introspection
11 In Walked Bud
12 Monk’s Mood
13 Who Knows
14 ‘Round Midnight
15 Four in One
16 Criss Cross
17 Eronel
18 Straight No Chaser
19 Ask Me Now
20 Willow Weep for Me
21 Skippy
22 Hornin’ In
23 Sixteen
24 Carolina Moon

CD 2: TOTAL TIME 78:34 Min.

01 Let’s Cool One
02 I’ll Follow You
03 Evidence
04 Misterioso
05 Epistrophy
06 I Mean You
07 All the Things You Are
08 I Should Care
09 Reflections
10 Misterioso
11 Shuffle Boil*
12 Brake’s Sake*
13 Gallop’s Gallop*
14 Nica’s Tempo*
15 Eronel [Solo piano version]*
16 Evidence [Solo piano version]*
17 Well You Needn’t [Solo piano version]*
18 ‘Round Midnight [Solo piano version]*