Product Code: BN LA579 H2
Artist: Thelonious Monk
Origin: USA
Label: Blue Note (1976)
Format: LP
Availability: Enquire Now
Condition:
Cover: VG+
Record: VG+
Genre: Jazz U

The Complete Genius

Superb compilation. Excellent 2LP vinyl, very nice clean gatefold cover.

Jazz pianist  Thelonious Monk's first sessions as a bandleader were recorded between 1947 and 1952, and released on Blue Note records as a series of 78 RPM singles.  These singles were then compiled in later years—with additional performances from the sessions—into long-playing album formats.  As Monk's reputation and fame grew, the sessions were recompiled again and again into more complete configurations.  This article details various releases of these sessions.

The Blue Note recordings were made over the course of six sessions.  "Versions" refers only to the number of eventually-released performances; other takes may have been recorded.

All compositions by Thelonious Monk unless otherwise noted.

Session 1:  October 15, 1947[edit]

  1. "Humph"
  2. "Evonce" (Idrees Sulieman, Ike Quebec) [2 versions]
  3. "Suburban Eyes" (Ike Quebec) [2 versions]
  4. "Thelonious"

Session 2: October 24, 1947[edit]

  1. "Nice Work If You Can Get It" (George Gershwin) [2 versions]
    • Ira Gershwin wrote lyrics for this song, but these recordings are instrumental.
  2. "Ruby My Dear" [2 versions]
  3. "Well You Needn't" [2 versions]
  4. "April in Paris" (Vernon Duke) [2 versions]
    • Yip Harburg wrote lyrics for this song, but these recordings are instrumental.
  5. "Off Minor"
  6. "Introspection"

Session 3: November 21, 1947[edit]

  1. "In Walked Bud"
  2. "Monk's Mood"
  3. "Who Knows? [2 versions]"
  4. "'Round Midnight"

Session 4: July 2, 1948[edit]

  1. "Evidence"
  2. "Misterioso" [2 versions]
  3. "Epistrophy" (Monk, Kenny Clarke)
  4. "I Mean You"
  5. "All the Things You Are" (Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein)
  6. "I Should Care" (Sammy Cahn, Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston) [2 versions]

Session 5: July 23, 1951[edit]

  1. "Four in One" [2 versions]
  2. "Criss Cross" [2 versions]
  3. "Eronel" (Monk, Sulieman, Sadik Hakim)
  4. "Straight, No Chaser"
  5. "Ask Me Now" [2 versions]
  6. "Willow Weep for Me" (Ann Ronnell)

Session 6: May 30, 1952[edit]

  1. "Skippy" [2 versions]
  2. "Hornin' In" [2 versions]
  3. "Sixteen" [2 versions]
  4. "Carolina Moon" (Benny Davis, Joe Burke)
  5. "Let's Cool One"
  6. "I'll Follow You" (Fred E. Ahlert)
    • Roy Turk wrote lyrics for this song, but this recording is instrumental.