THELONIOUS MONK
Monk Round The World (Hyena)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

---

This disc offers 7 archival live performances by Thelonious Monk recorded between 1961 and 1964, truly prime time in Monk's career. While the rhythm section of the quartet varies, every cut features the famous combination of Monk's piano and Charlie Rouse's tenor, the pair being, as producer Joel Dorn puts it, "the Lone Ranger and Tonto of jazz."

The cuts include seven of Monk's most familiar compositions (two versions of "Epistrophy" bookend the program) and each presents some of the best the Thelonious Monk Quartets had to offer. Critiquing the work of such a legendary figure is a fool's errand, of course, so I'll simply say that if you're a jazz fan, any kind of jazz fan, this is an album you should own.

That's especially true because Hyena continues its practice of including a DVD of rare performance footage in nearly every release. This time it's three tracks from a 1965 Monk date in London with Rouse, bassist Larry Gales and drummer Ben Riley. As Dorn says, if you ain't seen Monk, you don't know Monk. Since we can't see him live anymore, this is a great way to get to know him and the DVD has a major role in making this an essential collection.

Track List:

Epistrophy * Blue Monk * Ruby My Dear * Rhythm A Ning * Bemsha Swing * Hackensack * Epistrophy

BONUS DVD: Rhythm A Ning * Nutty * Criss Cross

© 2004 - Shaun Dale