The Thelonious Monk Quartet – Monk’s Dream (Limited Edition 12-Inch Album on 180g Clear/White Splatter Vinyl)

This hand-numbered release is limited to 500 copies.

Released in January 1963, Monk’s Dream is the Columbia Records debut release featuring the Thelonious Monk Quartet: Monk (piano), Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), John Ore (bass) and Frankie Dunlop (drums).

Jazz scholars and enthusiasts alike heralded this combo as the best Monk had been involved with for several years. The tight – almost telepathic – dimensions that these four shared has rarely been equalled in any genre.

On tracks such as Five Spot Blues and Bolivar Blues, Rouse and Dunlop demonstrate their uncanny abilities by squeezing in well-placed instrumental fills, while never getting hit by the unpredictable rhythmic frisbees being tossed about by Monk. Augmenting the six quartet recordings are two solo sides: Just a Gigolo and Body and Soul. Most notable about Monk’s solo work is how much he retained the same extreme level of intuition throughout the nearly two decades that separate these recordings from his initial renderings in the late ‘40s.

Monk’s Dream is essential listening, with something for every degree of Monk enthusiast.

Track Listing

Side One

1. Monk’s Dream (6:28)
2. Body and Soul (4:30)
3. Bright Mississippi (8:38)
4. Five Spot Blues (3:16)

Side Two

1. Bolivar Blues (7:32)
2. Just a Gigolo (2:30)
3. Bye-Ya (6:03)
4. Sweet and Lovely (7:52)

Format: Vinyl / 12” Album (Coloured Vinyl)

Label: Second Records

Catalogue No: SRPD0016SP

Barcode: 9003829979763

Release Date: 28 Apr 2023