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"You know, anybody can play a composition and use far-out chords and make it sound wrong. It’s making it sound right that’s not easy." Thelonious Monk, 1961

With the arrival of Thelonious Sphere Monk, modern music–let alone modern culture--simply hasn’t been the same. Recognized as one of the most inventive pianists of any musical genre, Monk achieved a startlingly original sound that even his most devoted followers have been unable to successfully imitate. His musical vision was both ahead of its time and deeply rooted in tradition, spanning the entire history of the music from the "stride" masters of James P. Johnson and Willie "the Lion" Smith to the tonal freedom and kinetics of the "avant garde." And he shares with Edward "Duke" Ellington the distinction of being one of the century’s greatest American composers. At the same time, his commitment to originality in all aspects of life–in fashion, in his creative use of language and economy of words, in his biting humor, even in the way he danced away from the piano–has led fans and detractors alike to call him "eccentric," "mad" or even "taciturn." Consequently, Monk has become ! perhaps the most talked about and least understood artist in the history of jazz.

The album is from concerts done in Paris during the winter of 1964, Monk's quartet with Butch Warren (bass), Ben Riley (drums) and Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), showcases one standard and four of the pianist's originals. Only "Epistrophy," the closer, is in short form. Noticeable from the opening refrains of "Four in One" is Rouse, bending notes, extrapolating and modifying the melody, challenging Monk to do the same. 



 Track Listings
  1. Four in One
  2. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
  3. Straight No Chaser
  4. Well You Needn't
  5. Epistrophy
  6. Blue Monk
  7. Sweet and Lovely
  8. Hackensack
  9. Rhythm-a-ning
 10. Bright Mississippi
 11. Epistrophy