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LP
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TM 001LP
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$31.00
PREORDER
RELEASE DATE: 4/24/2026
"A newly unearthed and fully restored recording of Thelonious Monk's 1967 Paris concert. This marks the first official release from the Monk Estate. Captured at the height of Monk's creative powers, this historic performance showcases the pianist and composer with his classic quartet: Charlie Rouse (tenor saxophone), Larry Gales (bass), and Ben Riley (drums). The unparalleled composer/pianist/visionary Thelonious Sphere Monk epitomized every aspect of this in exponential form. As a result, he occupies a unique position in the Jazz pantheon. Every aspect of this extraordinary man epitomizes jazz expression at its most compelling level. His visual presence -- his headwear, his glasses, his sartorial style -- matched with his remarkably profound verbal statements, the way he danced around the piano during other musicians' solos; and even more importantly, his brilliant compositions that are both starkly angular, yet gorgeously lyrical, and matched by his piano playing which made dissonance and fractured rhythms so utterly delightful, make Thelonious Monk stand out dynamically even amidst his other transcendent peers. This release, Monk Live in Paris, 1967: Volume One, is very special, not only for its merging of these elements, but also because it showcases Monk's longstanding quartet featuring tenor man Charlie Rouse and the bass/drums tandem of Larry Gales and Ben Riley, who are joined by five very special guest horn men. Alto saxophonist Phil Woods, trombonist Jimmy Cleveland, Ray Copeland and tenor titan Johnny Griffin (Rouse's predecessor in the quartet) perform in various permutations. Volume One includes four Monk classics -- 'Epistrophy,' with a scorching, growlingly muscular Griffin solo and a lyrical and adventurous Copeland solo; the deliciously syncopated 'Evidence,' with sparkling Rouse, another terrific solo by Copeland; and bluesy, wickedly swinging Woods. On both extended pieces, the four horns provide densely harmonic thematic statements and some adventurous riffing that spurs on the soloists for a spontaneous feeling with a jam session atmosphere of jubilant excitement. 'We See' again highlights Rouse and Copeland; with the beautiful 'Ruby, My Dear' just featuring the original quartet completing the package. The recording is presented as a 180-gram audiophile pressing and was selected by Thelonious Sphere Monk III as the first in a new series of previously unreleased, rare live recordings, mastered by Rudy Van Gelder. The album cover artwork was designed by Japanese graphic designer and artist Gaku Inada. Vinyl: 180 gram, blue vinyl. Packaging: single pocket jacket with a polylined sleeve and insert."
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