
Rate it!
Avg: 4.0 (4 ratings)
- Date Released: August 31, 2004
- Genre: Jazz
- Style: Bebop, Classic Jazz
- Label: Fantasy / Riverside
-
They Say...
Offering a "best-of" package from Thelonious Monk is a daunting task, even if the compiler sticks to his Riverside material between 1955 and 1960. Such a package, for instance, could only hint at the riches of an album like Brilliant Corners and Monk's Music. But why shouldn't a newcomer to the works of Monk have one great disc to draw him or her in? The Best of Thelonious Monk accomplishes just that, compiling pieces from the above mentioned albums, live tracks, and even a lovely solo version of the pianist's best-known piece, "'Round Midnight." The disc is packed -- with one exception -- with Monk's compositions, thus introducing the novice to all aspects of his work. Monk's joined by a who's who list of modern jazz greats including saxophonist John Coltrane, drummer Art Blakey, and tenor Sonny Rollins for trios, quartets, quintets, and sextets. There's a tremendous 11-minute take on "Well, You Needn't" and a nice interpretation of Duke Ellington's "Caravan." As this disc plainly shows, Monk's writing and piano style was beautifully idiosyncratic, and quite unlike anything else at the time or since. His solos on "Well, You Needn't" and "Brilliant Corners" range between mathematically precise to abstract, spinning precise patterns and then drifting freely. But while Monk's music was always difficult, he -- like Charles Mingus -- never forgot to write intriguing melodies. For those who have never experienced the brilliance of one of jazz's most distinct stylists, The Best of Thelonious Monk is a grand place to start.
“ The indie iTunes — Hardcore music fans are migrating to eMusic, the iTunes Music Store's cheaper, cooler cousin.”
Rolling Stone
This album includes one or more tracks available only with a full album download.
eMusic Tip
Paid downloads are counted towards an album discount but free downloads are not.
COMPLETE FOR FREE!
You can download the rest of the tracks from this album for free! Just click the Complete Album button.
We’re sorry this album can only be downloaded using paid subscription download credits.
We recommend you Save it for Later by clicking the Save for Later button shown just above this message. For a list of related albums you can download right now, check out these recommendations.
10 Total Tracks, 73:59 Total Length
Loading...

![]()
Playlists If you like Thelonious Monk, check out these member playlists
Credits
- Blind Willie Johnson - Author // Blind Willie Johnson - Author // Joe Gordon - Trumpet // Joe Gordon - Trumpet // Gigi Gryce - Sax (Alto) // Ernie Henry - Sax (Alto) // Sam Jones - Bass // Thad Jones - Cornet // Thad Jones - Cornet // Thad Jones - Cornet // Thad Jones - Cornet // Harold Land - Sax (Tenor) // Harold Land - Sax (Tenor) // Harold Land - Sax (Tenor) // Gerry Mulligan - Sax (Baritone) // Gerry Mulligan - Sax (Baritone) // Gerry Mulligan - Sax (Baritone) // Gerry Mulligan - Sax (Baritone) // Gerry Mulligan - Sax (Baritone) // Gerry Mulligan - Sax (Baritone) // Oscar Pettiford - Bass // Max Roach - Drums // Max Roach - Drums // Max Roach - Drums // Sonny Rollins - Sax (Tenor) // Sonny Rollins - Sax (Tenor) // Charlie Rouse - Sax (Tenor) // Charlie Rouse - Sax (Tenor) // Wilbur Ware - Bass // Coleman Hawkins - Sax (Tenor) // Coleman Hawkins - Sax (Tenor) // Ray Copeland - Trumpet // Art Blakey - Drums // Art Blakey - Drums // Art Blakey - Drums // Kenny Clarke - Drums // Kenny Clarke - Drums // Kenny Clarke - Drums // Kenny Clarke - Drums // John Coltrane - Sax (Tenor) // John Coltrane - Sax (Tenor) // John Coltrane - Sax (Tenor) // John Coltrane - Sax (Tenor) // John Coltrane - Sax (Tenor) // John Coltrane - Sax (Tenor) // John Coltrane - Sax (Tenor) // Kirk Felton - Remastering // Ray Fowler - Engineer // Rudy Van Gelder - Engineer // Reice Hamel - Engineer // Jack Higgins - Engineer // Orrin Keepnews - Producer // Thelonious Monk - Main Performer // Thelonious Monk - Main Performer // Thelonious Monk - Main Performer // Thelonious Monk - Main Performer // Thelonious Monk - Main Performer // Thelonious Monk - Main Performer // John Ore - Bass // Shadow Wilson - Drums // Chip Stern - Liner Notes // Jamie Putnam - Art Direction // Jamie Putnam - Design
Choose from over 6 million
music downloadseMusic features legendary and emerging artists in every genre: classic rock to classical,indie to international, soundtracks to spiritual, jazz to country and many more.
MP3 downloads work on any digital media player
With eMusic, you OWN your music without any restrictions. Burn music to a CD, play it on your computer, mobile phone or any digital media player - including iPod®, Zune® and Walkman®.
Songs available for 50¢ or less
eMusic subscriptions start at just $11.99 a month for 24 downloads - that's just 50¢ per song! And it gets better from there - our plans go as low as 42¢ per song!
Music Discovery
eMusic is about discovery. We make finding new music fun again with music recommendations from our award-winning team of music experts, member playlists and new music features.
Cancel anytime
With all the great music and site features we're pretty sure you will love eMusic. If not, no problem. You can cancel at any time and keep the music you have downloaded.




