This year’s best music release

by Dallin I

We are getting closer to the end of the year and, no doubt, debate over the best music release this year will soon be upon us.  I will happily join in that debate, but will state my unequivocal opinion that this year’s best and most important music release is the recently discovered live performance of the Thelonious Monk Quartet and John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall.

Earlier this year, a Library of Congress staffer discovered tapes of the performance.  Until the discovery, Coltrane and Monk’s collaborations had been woefully represented on recordings.  A brief account of the how the "new" recordings came to be can be found here: http://www.bluenote.com/detail.asp?SelectionID=10459 . 

Earlier in their collaborative efforts, Coltrane struggled with Monk’s quirky melodic sense and timing, but nails it down on these recordings.  That a man of Coltrane’s unusual talent struggled with anything kills me, but Monk was such a unique voice that I can understand it.  I’m just happy that by the time this recording was made, Coltrane had "learned" Monk well enough to make it all work.

While Monk isn’t necessarily a great starting point for anyone looking to get into jazz, I highly recommend this album to anyone who has appreciation for music.  It is a fantastic listen and one that sits comfortably next any of Monk or Coltrane’s best work.

4 Comments

  1. I agree that this release is absolutely fantastic. A shot out of nowhere. An all time classic from two giants of jazz.

    [But when it comes time to talk about the best music of 2005, best "release" isn't what I'll be talking about. . .]

    Comment by Logan — October 20, 2005 @ 2:53 pm

  2. QOTSA has my vote for this year…

    Comment by Bob Caswell — October 20, 2005 @ 8:13 pm

  3. Dallin, can you post some of the Monk/Coltrane collaboration to the radioblog? I’d like to give it a listen.

    I’m curious about Stevie Wonder’s new album but haven’t heard it yet.

    Comment by danithew — October 20, 2005 @ 9:11 pm

  4. I just posted a song Dallin sent to the radio.blog.

    Comment by Susan M — October 21, 2005 @ 2:21 pm