Ken Burns Jazz-Thelonious Monk
In conjunction with the release of Ken Burns ten-part, 19-hour epic PBS documentary Jazz Columbia issued 22 single-disc compilations devoted to jazz's most significant artists, as well as a five-disc historical summary. Since the individual compilations attempt to present balanced overviews of each artist's career, tracks from multiple labels have thankfully been licensed where appropriate. Accordingly, Thelonious Monk s volume draws from his early piano trio recordings with Blue Note and his expanded ensembles and solo explorations for Riverside and Columbia Monk frequently re-recorded many of his now-standard compositions in different formats, so it's difficult to choose definitive versions; the compilers have wisely opted to present the full spectrum of arrangement approaches Monk employed over the course of his career. Not quite all of Monk s best-known pieces are here, but the vast majority are: "Well You Needn't," "Misterioso," "Epistrophy," "Straight, No Chaser," "Ruby, My Dear," and of course "'Round Midnight." There are also excellent supplementary choices like "Brilliant Corners," which was too complicated to really become a standard (and had to be pieced together from several studio takes because the musicians never quite got through it flawlessly). Monk made a tremendous amount of brilliant, harmonically quirky music over the course of his career, and Ken Burns Jazz makes an excellent entry point for the neophyte who wants to begin exploring what Monk was all about. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
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Credits »
Bob Belden - Compilation Producer
Bob Belden - Discographical Information
Adam Block - Project Manager
Ken Burns - Executive Producer
Michael Cuscuna - Compilation Producer
Michael Cuscuna - Discographical Information
Didier C. Deutsch - Discographical Information
Jeff Jones - Coordination
Peter Keepnews - Liner Notes
Thelonious Monk - Main Performer
Hall Overton - Arranger
Mark Wilder - Mastering
Seth Rothstein - Project Director
Herman Leonard - Cover Photo
Howard Fritzson - Art Direction
Ron Goldstein - Coordination
Nate Herr - Project Manager
Hollis King - Art Direction
Ben Young - Discographical Information
Mike Charlasch - Project Director
Patti Matheny - Coordination
Deborah Hay - Editing
Carlos Kase - Discographical Information
Bryan Koniarz - Project Manager
Seth Foster - Mastering
Jeffrey Peisch - Project Director
Jeffrey Peisch - Photo Research
John Christiana - Packaging Manager
Lauren Atlas - Packaging Manager
Sarah Botstein - Project Director
Ken Druker - Project Manager
Victoria Gohl - Photo Research
Kristin Kozusko - Coordination
Adam Owett - Art Direction
Darren Salmieri - Coordination
Nathan Savage - Design
Clare Walker - Packaging Manager
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