Monk, Alone In Paris

Rate It! Avg: 4.5 (64 ratings)
Sample Album
ALBUM INFORMATION
EDITOR'S PICK

Total Tracks: 9   Total Length: 30:58

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wonderful record

badperson

this record, along with the "alone in san francisco" is a great treat to hear...these two records have been my most played monk sides for months now. I'm especially into the way he interprets ballads, on this record "smoke gets in your eyes" is beautifully done. It's cool to hear him bring his personal style to standards, it's such a great window into how he hears melody and gets his ideas. Also, on this side, the piano feels slightly out of tune, giving it this old barroom kind of sound, which I kind of like here...(although in general I support piano players getting pissed having to play on a lousy instrument)

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Monk Solo

BuddhaPuppy

Monk is awesome! To one of the reviewers, there is another two-disk set called Solo Monk/Monk Alone which he did for Columbia. I would suggest the two disk set and this download for everyone.

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Alone in Paris (but not everywhere)

MikeR

Absolutely agree with BlueStar69: it is one of the great Monk albums but... it's not his only solo set. He (and everyone else) should check out "Thelonious Himself" (with its nearly 22-minute exposition on 'Round Midnight) and "Alone in San Francisco". Both date from what I consider to be his most productive period - that of his Riverside contract when he had an understanding producer in Orrin Keepnews - and demonstrate that Monk was at his best when unencumbered by other musicians (even those as great as Milt Jackson, Art Blakey, Roy Haynes, Max Roach or the fledgling John Coltrane). Best of all they're both available on eMusic. Oh, and there was at least one solo album from Columbia (not on eMusic) but, at that point Monk's creative juices were at something of a low ebb. Finally, there are a few solo tracks on Monk's Prestige and Riverside albums (plus some on his last Black Lion London sessions (also not on eMusic) but worth searching out as they're a cut above the Columbias).

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Some gold to listen to

Bluestar69

Thelonious Monk is to me (with Duke) the greatest composer of all times,a real icon in music,this album is to my knowledge the only one that he recorded solo, it's a real treasure,some gold that everyone should listen to every morning!

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Solo Monk In His Prime

scott.whigham

I love this album - always have. Can't go wrong with it...

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