Thelonious Monk -- MISTERIOSO
Monk(p), Johnny Griffin(ts), Ahmed Abdul Malik(b), Roy Haynes(d)
Typical complex simplicity from Monk. Recorded Live At The Five Spot Cafe, NYC Aug 1958, which makes it a little over 55 years ago! WOW! I still think of these guys in the present tense.
Great music, mostly Monk's tunes, and great playing, esp from Johnny Griffin. This could easily have been his CD. This being pre-Rouse. The audience is there but barely heard. Not obtrusive at all.
One complaint: On the title track 'Misterioso', we have Monk in the middle, the drums and sax in the left speaker and the poor bass by itself in the right speaker.
I had not heard, or been aware of, my speakers for ages, until this. When Griffin took a solo, all the sound came from the left speaker. This only happened on this track.
The rest of the recording was good.
But, it's Monk, and that's more than good enough! This was recorded at the same time as another Monk recording 'Monk in Action" Both on Riverside label.
Do you need it? Can an 'aficionado' have too much Monk?
Check out the 'complete riverside' CD box set.
Cheers
Monk(p), Johnny Griffin(ts), Ahmed Abdul Malik(b), Roy Haynes(d)
Typical complex simplicity from Monk. Recorded Live At The Five Spot Cafe, NYC Aug 1958, which makes it a little over 55 years ago! WOW! I still think of these guys in the present tense.
Great music, mostly Monk's tunes, and great playing, esp from Johnny Griffin. This could easily have been his CD. This being pre-Rouse. The audience is there but barely heard. Not obtrusive at all.
One complaint: On the title track 'Misterioso', we have Monk in the middle, the drums and sax in the left speaker and the poor bass by itself in the right speaker.
I had not heard, or been aware of, my speakers for ages, until this. When Griffin took a solo, all the sound came from the left speaker. This only happened on this track.
The rest of the recording was good.
But, it's Monk, and that's more than good enough! This was recorded at the same time as another Monk recording 'Monk in Action" Both on Riverside label.
Do you need it? Can an 'aficionado' have too much Monk?
Check out the 'complete riverside' CD box set.
Cheers