Thelonious Monk-Well, You Needn't

Recorded over two evenings in Los Angeles in 1964 and arranged in order, this recording presents the great Thelonious Monk at the peak of his considerable talents--and with his most enduring sidemen, including saxophonist Charlie Rouse and drummer Ben Riley. This version also restores 11 (!) cuts to their entirety (previous versions edited or offered shortened bass and drum solos). Aside from the now-complete versions of the set's songs, this It Club also offers three previously unreleased songs ("Teo," "Bright Mississippi," and "Just You, Just Me") and 20-bit digital remastering. The result is perhaps as close as we can come to a great-sounding complete show by one of the most fertile minds in the history of jazz. While not one of Monk's wilder live sessions, this set nonetheless effortlessly communicates the pianist's offbeat genius. From the first note, the sound (which thanks to the remaster, begs for high volume) is classic Monk: inquisitive right-hand chord exploration, thundering left-hand exclamations, and intoxicating runs up and down the keyboard fly from his fingers while the band gives him enough room so that every thought, strategy, and wild hare is allowed to range free. Highlights include an exquisitely gorgeous "I'm getting Sentimental over You", a spicy "Rhythm-A-Ning," and an uptempo "Bright Mississippi." With excellent liner notes by Bob Blumenthal and some new photos, this package rates as a must-buy for all Monkophiles. --S. Duda

Category:

Music

Tags:

• monk
• well
• neendt
• jazz

[BlueNote4003]

this man was a fucking genius!

[andyboterman]

I've said it before and I'll say it again... No one grooves like Monk... no one

[MyYopiyopi]

@egan1202 i'm superman, and i curse your comment.

expecto patronooooom!!!

[egan1202]

I'm Barak Obama, and I endorse this message.

[saketorasan]

モンクと言えば、先ずはコレと、ブリリアント・コーナーズを思い­出す。モンクス・ミュージックのヴァージョンと比較すると、多少­各ソロパートが物足りない気がする。

[Sibonsax]

This is about as good as it gets! Monk, Rouse, Riley, & Gales?. I love this version and am still working on a transcription of Rouse's tenor part.

[13moocher]

@texasB666 I know how you feel. Wowsa!

[gsmonks]

I'm so used to the slower, more laid-back Miles Davis version that I often forget where this tune came from. The two versions are as different as Benny Goodman vs Chick Webb.

[davidinberlin]

uno le erro al dedito para arriba

[tzakouras]

@person3enpassant Wiki says Monk wanted to name it after singer Charlie Beamon to which Charlie replied "Well you needn't". Sounds like something Monk would do I think.

[person3enpassant]

@sethsbone You're probably right, it sounds more like that! Still, I like my little whimsical interpretation ;D

[sethsbone]

@person3enpassant in the real book it's title "well you needn't (it's over now)" so i'm thinking it's a relationship thing.