2 LPs ON 1 CD

This release presents Thelonious Monk's first two albums for the Riverside label, both of which were recorded in a trio format: "Thelonious Monk Plays Duke Ellington" (Riverside RLP 12-201) and "The Unique Thelonious Monk" (Riverside RLP 12-209). The LPs are unusual in that they showcase Monk playing songs by other composers (in the case of the first record all of the material is by the great Duke Ellington). Backing Monk are such brilliant musicians as Oscar Pettiford on bass, and Kenny Clarke and Art Blakey on drums.

PERSONNEL:

THELONIOUS MONK, piano on all tracks, plus:

[1-8]: Thelonious Monk Plays Duke Ellington (4 Stars All Music Guide)

OSCAR PETTIFORD, bass
KENNY CLARKE, drums
Hackensack, New Jersey, July 21 & 27, 1955.

[9-15]: The Unique Thelonious Monk (4 1/2 Stars Downbeat Magazine) (4 1/2 Stars All Music Guide)
OSCAR PETTIFORD, bass
ART BLAKEY, drums
Hackensack, New Jersey, March 17 & April 3, 1956.

INCLUDES 20-PAGE BOOKLET

TRACKS:

01 It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
02 Sophisticated Lady
03 I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
04 Black And Tan Fantasy
05 Mood Indigo
06 I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
07 Solitude
08 Caravan
09 Liza (All The Clouds'll Roll Away)
10 Memories Of You
11 Honeysuckle Rose
12 Darn That Dream
13 Tea For Two
14 You Are Too Beautiful
15 Just You, Just Me

Total Time: 75:59