THELONIOUS MONK — Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 2 (1952) RM | MONO | RVG Edition, Modern Jazz Series | Two Version | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The second volume in this two-disc series displays Thelonious Monk coming into his own fully as a leader. The program consists almost entirely of original compositions, and in fact it opens with two of his most difficult: "Four in One" (with its conventional bop intro that leads into a bizarre, repeated five-against-two quintuplet sequence) and the forbiddingly abstract "Criss Cross." Get through those and you'll eventually be rewarded with the relatively straightforward, blues-based "Straight No Chaser" and the sweet ballad "Ask Me Now," among other treats. Sidemen include the young trumpeter Kenny Dorham and bassist Al McKibbon, as well as a more clued-in Art Blakey and (replacing Blakey on half of the program) Max Roach. Sahib Shihab's sax tone is more appropriate this time out, and the production quality is somewhat better. This disc, along with Volume 1, belongs in every jazz collection. Rick Anderson
Tracklist :
1.    Four In One    3:27
 Thelonious Monk 
2.    Four In One (Alternate Take)    3:26
 Thelonious Monk 
3.    Criss Cross    2:55
 Thelonious Monk 
4.    Criss Cross (Alternate Take)    2:48
 Thelonious Monk 
5.    Eronel    3:01
 Thelonious Monk 
6.    Straight No Chaser    2:54
 Thelonious Monk 
7.    Ask Me Now (Alternate Take)    4:26
 Thelonious Monk 
8.    Ask Me Now    3:12
 Thelonious Monk 
9.    Willow Weep For Me  3:00
Written-By – Ann Ronnell
10.    Skippy    2:55
 Thelonious Monk 
11.    Skippy (Alternate Take)    3:07
 Thelonious Monk 
12.    Hornin' In (Alternate Take)    3:05
 Thelonious Monk 
13.    Hornin' In    3:07
 Thelonious Monk 
14.    Sixteen (First Take)    3:28
 Thelonious Monk 
15.    Sixteen (Second Take)    3:36
 Thelonious Monk 
16.    Carolina Moon  3:25
Written-By – Davis, Burke
17.    Let's Cool One    3:45
 Thelonious Monk 
18.    I'll Follow You  3:46
Written-By – Alhert, Turk
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson (tracks: 10 to 17), Sahib Shihab (tracks: 1 to 6, 9)
Bass – Al McKibbon (tracks: 1 to 9), Nelson Boyd (tracks: 10 to 18)
Drums – Art Blakey (tracks: 1 to 9), Max Roach (tracks: 10 to 18)
Piano – Thelonious Monk
Producer – Alfred Lion
Reissue Producer – Michael Cuscuna
Tenor Saxophone – Lucky Thompson (tracks: 10 to 17)
Transferred By [Disc Transfers, 2001], Restoration [Digital Audio Restoration, 2001], Remastered By [Mastered By, 2001] – Rudy Van Gelder
Trumpet – Kenny Dorham (tracks: 10 to 17)
Vibraphone – Milt Jackson (tracks: 1 to 6, 9)