THELONIOUS MONK — Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1 (1947) RM | MONO | RVG Edition, Modern Jazz Series | Two Version | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Volume 1 of the two-volume Genius of Modern Music set comprises the first sessions Thelonious Monk recorded as a leader, on October 15 and 24 and November 21 of 1947. It's impossible to overstate the importance of these sessions. They include some of the earliest recordings of Monk compositions that would become standards, despite their angularity and technical difficulty: the strange, sideways chord progression of "Thelonious"; the bouncy and cheerful but melodically cockeyed "Well, You Needn't"; the post-bop Bud Powell tribute "In Walked Bud"; and, of course, "'Round Midnight," which is now one of the most frequently recorded jazz compositions ever. There are kinks to be worked out: Art Blakey's drumming is fine, but he obviously hasn't quite taken the measure of Monk's compositional genius, and on the November session, alto saxophonist Sahib Shihab employs a fat, warbly tone that sounds out of place. But the excitement of discovery permeates every measure, and Monk himself is in top form, his solos jagged and strange, yet utterly beautiful. This first volume of Genius of Modern Music, along with the second, belongs in every jazz collection. Rick Anderson   
Tracklist :
1. Humph 2:50
Composed By – Monk
2. Evonce (Alternate Take) 3:00
Composed By – I. Sulieman, I. Quebec
3. Evonce 3:01
Composed By – I. Sulieman, I. Quebec
4. Suburban Eyes 2:58
Composed By – Ike Quebec
5. Suburban Eyes (Alternate Take) 2:55
Composed By – Ike Quebec
6. Thelonious 2:58
Composed By – Monk
7. Nice Work If You Can Get It (Alternate Take) 3:01
Composed By – Gershwin
8. Nice Work If You Can Get It 3:00
Composed By – Gershwin
9. Ruby My Dear (Alternate Take) 3:03
Composed By – Mon
10. Ruby My Dear 3:05
Composed By – Monk
11. Well You Needn't 2:55
Composed By – Monk
12. Well You Needn't (Alternate Take) 2:52
Composed By – Monk
13. April In Paris (Alternate Take) 2:39
Composed By – Harburg, Duke
14. April In Paris 3:17
Composed By – Harburg, Duke
15. Off Minor 2:58
Composed By – Monk
16. Introspection 3:10
Composed By – Monk
17. In Walked Bud 2:54
Composed By – Monk
18. Monk's Mood 3:09
Composed By – Monk
19. Who Knows 2:40
Composed By – Monk
20. 'Round Midnight 3:09
Composed By – Monk
21. Who Knows (Alternate Take) 2:39
Composed By – Monk
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Danny Quebec West (tracks: 1 to 6), Sahib Shihab (tracks: 17 to 21)
Bass – Bob Paige (tracks: 17 to 21), Gene Ramey (tracks: 1 to 16)
Drums – Art Blakey
Piano – Thelonious Monk
Trumpet – George Taitt (tracks: 17 to 21), Idrees Sulieman (tracks: 1 to 6)