The 1957 release by the piano-great Thelonious Monk and his Septet. Reading like a who’s who of jazz, the album features players including John Coltrane (tenor sax), Coleman Hawkins (tenor sax), Art Blakey (drums) and Ray Copeland (trumpet). This new edition of the album is released as part of the Original Jazz Classics Series with all-analog mastering from the original tapes.
The album, wrote Pitchfork, “Helped define the future of jazz and the mind of Monk.” His songs “Ruby, My Dear,” a study in nostalgia, and in contrast, the lively, confident “Well You Needn’t” are highlights in Monk Music’s aural field of dreams.