Thelonious Monk Plays

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Compiling essential trio dates recorded in 1952 and 1954, this release highlights the notoriously eccentric pianist operating alongside premier rhythm sections, including Art Blakey and Percy Heath. The tracks beautifully frame his highly angular, dissonant comping and unique rhythmic displacements within a slightly more accessible, fiercely swinging context. The vital recordings underscore his unparalleled ability to completely deconstruct traditional bop architecture into deeply original, idiosyncratic forms.