THELONIOUS MONK SEPTET - Monk's Music (1957) Two Version (1986, RM | MONO | Riverside CD Masterpiece Series – 6) + (2011, RM | Serie Original Jazz Classics Remasters) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Monk's Music is often cited as one of the focal points of Thelonious Monk's six-year affiliation (1955-1961) with the Riverside label. Although the original disc clocked in at slightly over 30 minutes, packed into that half hour are not only the introduction of a few of Monk's signature compositions, but also some amazing interactions from the assembled ensemble. Joining Thelonious Monk (piano) during these two recording sessions are Ray Copeland (trumpet), Gigi Gryce (alto sax), Coleman Hawkins (tenor sax), John Coltrane (tenor sax), Wilbur Ware (bass), and Art Blakey (drums). The true meaning of the album's title exists beyond just Thelonious, as the opening sacred prelude, "Abide With Me," was written by William H. Monk. This brief piece features only the horn quartet, foreshadowing their importance throughout the album. The angular stride style featured during the chorus of "Well You Needn't" is tackled with the same nimble authority as Monk's completely unfettered solos. If his ability to swing and his utilization of atomic clock accuracy have ever been questioned, the answer lies no further. So utterly free and fantastic, certain passages command immediate review to be fully comprehended. Hearing Coltrane and Hawkins together is admittedly part of the charm in these sides. "Ruby, My Dear" is bathed in the smoky essence of Hawkins' rich textures and Coltrane's playful cat-and-mouse aggression. Blakey gently propels the rhythm, never getting in the way and sporting a serene snare groove throughout. "Off Minor" is largely led by Monk, with solos that follow into and out of the memorable chorus that sparkles with the full involvement of the horn and rhythm sections. The same is true for this definitive version of "Epistrophy" -- perhaps the zenith collaborative effort between Coltrane and Monk. AdAdditionally, Blakey is in top form, with a solo that borders on spastic precision. Lindsay Planer
Tracklist :
1    Abide with Me 0:55    
Henry Francis Lyte / Thelonious Monk
2    Well, You Needn't 11:27
Thelonious Monk
3    Ruby, My Dear 5:28    
Thelonious Monk
4    Off Minor (Take 5) 5:11    
Thelonious Monk
5    Epistrophy  10:48
Kenny Clarke / Thelonious Monk
6    Crepuscule with Nellie (Take 6) 4:40    
Thelonious Monk
– BONUS TRACK –
7    Off Minor (Take 4) 5:15    
Thelonious Monk
 8    Crepuscule with Nellie (Take 4 & 5) 4:44
Thelonious Monk
9    Blues For Tomorrow    13:33
Credits :
Trumpet – Ray Copeland
Alto Saxophone – Gigi Gryce
Bass – Wilbur Ware
Drums – Art Blakey
Piano – Thelonious Monk
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins, John Coltrane

ARCHIE SHEPP - Attica Blues Big Band (1979-2004) 2CD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

From the outset, Archie Shepp's terminally misunderstood Attica Blues on Impulse during the 1970s was an attempt by the saxophonist and composer to bring together the various kinds of African American musics under one heading and have them all express the conscience of the day. His ensemble featured singers, string players, horns, drums, guitars, etc. The sounds were a Gordian knot of jazz, free music, R&B, soul, groove, and even funk. In 1979 Shepp was given the opportunity to realize the project with an ensemble of his choosing at the Palais des Glaces in Paris (New York was already courting Wimpton Marsalis). Shepp chose 30 musicians and director/conductor Ray Copeland. Among the throng were saxophonists Marion Brown, John Purcell, Patience Higgins, and John Ware. Malachi Thompson led a five-trumpet section, and Steve Turre led the trombones, a young Brandon Ross played guitar, Avery Sharpe was one of two bassists, Clifford Jarvis held down the drum chair, Shepp played all his horns and piano -- though Art Matthews was the primary pianist on the gig. There were four vocalists and a string section. None of this would mean anything, of course, if the music weren't bad to the bone. From the opening moments of the "Attica Blues Theme, Pt. One" it becomes obvious that, with its drop-dead funky bassline and wailing soul vocals that create the mood, this will be a celebratory evening of education, protest, and groove. From here, Shepp moves the band into "Steam," with the funk and anger already present. But this track is far more laid-back in its big band arrangement than it was on the Shepp's Inner City version of some years before. It features a gorgeous vocal by Joe Lee Wilson, who has the chops of Sammy Davis Jr. and the depth of Big Joe Turner. And here is where Attica Blues truly begins, as "Steam" reaches its swinging nadir, and Shepp begins to fold in works by other composer such as Cal Massey ("Quiet Dawn"), Randy Weston ("Hi-Fly"), and Dave Burrell ("Crucificado") in with his own works, and the varying elements of free jazz and Latin music begin to make their presences felt on the R&B and swing accents that Attica Blues opens up for the magical treatise it is. Shepp's own playing is fell of depth and passion, though he leaves his fire music at home, preferring to work inside traditions and allow the music's freedom to dictate its own expression in places rather than as a whole. The history lesson moves on well into the second set with Frank Foster's "Simone" and Ramsey Lewis' gospel-tinged "Skippin," before coming out on the other end with a majestic resurgence of "Attica Blues" to bring it in. This is big band arranging and execution at its best; Shepp and Coleman make it all sound so easy, though charts are anything, but when you're fusing together so many different kinds of music. This is the high point of the latter part of Shepp's career, and it's a cultural crime that it's not available on an American label and sold as a work that belongs next to Mingus' Ah Um, Miles' Bitches Brew, Ornette's Science Fiction, and other notable works by the masters.
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
Tracklist 1 :
1-1    Attica Blues, Part 1 4:39
Arranged By, Conductor – Archie Shepp
Soloist, Soprano Saxophone – Archie Shepp
Soloist, Vocals – Irene Datcher
Written-By – A. Shepp, W.G. Harris
1-2    Steam 7:33
Arranged By, Conductor – Charles Greenlee
Soloist, Soprano Saxophone – Archie Shepp
Soloist, Trombone – Charles Greenlee
Soloist, Vocals – Joe Lee Wilson
Written-By – A. Shepp
1-3    Quiet Dawn 5:46
Arranged By – Cal Massey
Arranged By, Conductor – Ray Copeland
Soloist, Tenor Saxophone – Archie Shepp
Soloist, Vocals – Irene Datcher
Written-By – C. Massey
1-4    Hi-Fly 7:26
Arranged By – Melba Liston
Conductor – Ray Copeland
Soloist, Tenor Saxophone – Archie Shepp, Marvin Blackman
Soloist, Trumpet – Eddie Preston
Written-By – R. Weston
1-5    U-Jaama 7:41
Arranged By, Conductor – Charles Greenlee
Soloist, Tenor Saxophone – Archie Shepp
Soloist, Trombone – Charles Greenlee
Written-By – A. Shepp
1-6    Antes De Adios 2:50
Arranged By, Conductor – Terry Jenoure
Soloist, Guitar – Brandon Ross
Soloist, Vocals – Terry Jenoure
Written-By – T. Jenoure
1-7    Star Love 3:35
Arranged By, Conductor – Archie Shepp
Conch [Sea Shell] – Steve Turre
Soloist, Violin – Terry Jenoure
Written-By – A. Shepp
1-8    Moon Bees 6:05
Arranged By, Conductor – Archie Shepp
Soloist, Alto Saxophone – Marion Brown
Soloist, Tenor Saxophone – Marvin Blackman
Soloist, Trombone – Charles Greenlee, Charles Stephens, Malachi Thompson
Written-By – A. Shepp
Tracklist 2 :
2-1    Strollin' 6:10
Arranged By, Conductor – Ray Copeland
Soloist, Tenor Saxophone – Archie Shepp
Soloist, Trumpet – Charles McGhee
Soloist, Vocals – Joe Lee Wilson
Written-By – H. Silver
2-2    Ballad For A Child 5:37
Arranged By, Conductor – Archie Shepp
Soloist, Piano – Archie Shepp
Soloist, Vocals – Irene Datcher
Written-By – A. Shepp, W. G. Harris
2-3    Simone 7:34
Arranged By – Frank Foster
Conductor – Ray Copeland
Soloist, Piano – Art Matthews
Soloist, Soprano Saxophone – Archie Shepp
Soloist, Trumpet – Kamal Alim
Written-By – F. Foster
2-4    Crucificado 6:19
Arranged By, Conductor – Charles Greenlee
Soloist, Tenor Saxophone – Archie Shepp
Soloist, Trombone – Charles Greenlee
Soloist, Vocals – Joe Lee Wilson
Written-By – D. Burrell
2-5    A Change Has Come Over Me 5:35
Arranged By – Steve Turre
Conductor – Ray Copeland
Soloist, Vocals, Piano – Akua Dixon
Written-By – W. Hawkins
2-6    Goodbye Sweet Pops 5:54
Arranged By – Cal Massey, Romulus Franceschini
Arranged By, Conductor – Ray Copeland
Soloist, Soprano Saxophone – Archie Shepp
Written-By – C. Massey
2-7    Skippin' 4:29
Arranged By, Conductor – Ray Copeland
Soloist, Piano – Art Matthews
Soloist, Soprano Saxophone – Archie Shepp
Written-By – R. Lewis
2-8    Attica Blues, Part 2 8:43
Arranged By, Conductor – Archie Shepp
Soloist, Tenor Saxophone – Archie Shepp
Soloist, Vocals – Irene Datcher
Written-By – A. Shepp, W. G. Harris
Credits :
Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass – Avery Sharpe
Acoustic Bass, Tuba – Hakim Jami
Cello, Piano, Vocals – Akua Dixon
Directed By – Ray Copeland
Drums – Clifford Jarvis
Guitar – Brandon Ross
Percussion – Kevin Jones
Piano – Art Matthews
Saxophone, Flute – James Ware, John Purcell, Marion Brown, Marvin Blackman, Patience Higgins
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Piano, Leader – Archie Shepp
Synthesizer – Clyde Crimer
Trombone – Charles "Majeed" Greenlee, Charles Stephens, Dick Griffin, Ray Harris, Steve Turre
Trumpet – Charles McGhee, Eddie Preston, Kamal Alim, Richard "Malachi" Thompson, Roy Burrowes
Viola – Carl Ector
Violin – Candice Greene
Violin, Vocals – Terry Jenoure
Vocals – Irene Datcher, Joe Lee Wilson

THELONIOUS MONK WITH JOHN COLTRANE — The Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings (2006) 2CD | APE (image+.cue), lossless

Hardcore jazzheads with no doubt be delighted with this double-disc set that includes all the recordings Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane did together in 1957 for Riverside. Never mind that the vast majority of this material has been issued several times. There are two cuts that have never appeared before: an alternate of "Crepuscule with Nellie" from the septet sessions for Monk's Music on June 25 and 26 ( with Gigi Gryce, Coleman Hawkins, bassist Wilbur Ware, and drummer Shadow Wilson), and an alternate of "Abide with Me" with just Trane, Hawkins, and Gryce. There are also two tracks -- one of them a false start with Ware and Coltrane -- of "Monk's Mood," recorded on April 12 for inclusion on the otherwise solo Thelonious Himself album. The remaining three cuts with Ware, Wilson, and Coltrane were taken form the At the Five Spot live recording. Orrin Keepnews compiled this collection and wrote a wonderful and insightful essay about recording this music. It was all arranged chronologically, meaning there are no less than five takes in total of "Crepuscule with Nellie" taking up the vast majority of disc one. For those who have to have absolutely everything.
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
Tracklist 1 :
1    Monk's Mood [False Start] 0:55  
Thelonious Monk
2    Monk's Mood 7:52
Thelonious Monk
3    Crepuscule with Nellie [Take 1] 4:35
Thelonious Monk
4    Crepuscule with Nellie [Take 2] 4:43  
Thelonious Monk
5    Crepuscule with Nellie [Breakdown] 0:55  
Thelonious Monk
6    Blues for Tomorrow [first stereo release] 13:34 
Gigi Gryce
7    Crepuscule with Nellie [Takes 4 & 5] 4:47 
Thelonious Monk
8    Crepuscle with Nellie 4:39  
Thelonious Monk
9    Off Minor [Take 4] 5:16 
Thelonious Monk
10    Off Minor [Take 5] 5:10  
Thelonious Monk
Tracklist 2 :
1    Abide with Me [Take 1] 0:54 
Thelonious Monk / William Henry Monk
2    Abide with Me 0:55  
Thelonious Monk / William Henry Monk
3    Epistrophy [Alternate take] 3:09  
Kenny Clarke / Thelonious Monk
4    Epistrophy 10:47  
Kenny Clarke / Thelonious Monk
5    Well You Needn't [Opening] 1:26   
Thelonious Monk
6    Well You Needn't 11:24     
Thelonious Monk
7    Ruby, My Dear 5:26  
Thelonious Monk
8    Ruby, My Dear [with John Coltrane] 6:21
Thelonious Monk
9    Nutty 6:38  
Thelonious Monk
10    Trinkle, Tinkle  6:42
Thelonious Monk
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Gigi Gryce (tracks: 1-3 to 2-7)
Double Bass – Wilbur Ware (tracks: 1-1 to 1-10, 2-3 to 2-10)
Drums – Art Blakey (tracks: 1-3 to 1-10, 2-3 to 2-7), Shadow Wilson (tracks: 2-8 to 2-10)
Piano – Thelonious Monk
Producer, Compiled By – Orrin Keepnews
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins (tracks: 1-3 to 2-7), John Coltrane
Trumpet – Ray Copeland (tracks: 1-3 to 2-7)
Written-By – Thelonious Monk (tracks: 1-1 to 1-5, 1-7 to 1-10, 2-3 to 2-10)
Note:
Tracks 1-1 and 1-2 recorded April 12 1957 (Trio)
Tracks 1-3 to 1-6 recorded June 25th 1957 (Septet)
Tracks 1-7 to 2-7 recorded June 26th 1957 (Septet)
Tracks 2-8 to 2-10 recorded July 1957 (Quartet)