Thelonious Monk's third album for
Riverside was a good bit more adventurous than his first two, which were designed to make him a little more accessible. Lining up
Sonny Rollins on tenor sax and
Ernie Henry on alto, with drummer
Max Roach and bassist
Oscar Pettiford, everything seemed like it would fall into place. But as producer and liner note writer
Orrin Keepnews explained, some of
Monk's compositions were difficult, especially
"Brilliant Corners," which given the lack of rehearsal necessitated that multiple takes be spliced together, though the result is clearly worth the effort.
Monk's new blues
"Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are" has a jaunty air in its extended debut.
"Pannonica" features the novelty of
Monk doubling on piano and celeste, as the latter instrument was available in the studio and inspired him to add it on the spot. On the final session, which produced
"Bemsha Swing," Henry is replaced by trumpeter
Clark Terry and
Pettiford (who proved to be difficult during the first session) by
Paul Chambers, with
Roach adding timpani to his drum kit. This reissue in the
Keepnews Collection series adds a previously unissued opening chorus from
"Pannonica," though it is not a complete take.
Keepnews' new reflections on these sessions, over half a century after they were recorded, add to the value of this expanded CD reissue. ~ Ken Dryden
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