Thelonious Monk - The Complete Blue Note Recordings (4 CD)

This magnificent limited-edition set launched the Mosaic label in real style. Included are all of Thelonious Monk's Blue Note recordings, six sessions as a leader from 1947-52 complete with alternate takes plus two titles cut with tenor-saxophonist Sonny Rollins in 1957. Since these were Monk's first opportunities to lead his own recording dates, this set includes the original versions of such classics as "Ruby, My Dear," "Well You Needn't," "Off Minor," "In Walked Bud," "Evidence," "Criss Cross" and "Straight No Chaser" along with Monk's first chance to record "'Round Midnight" and "Epistrophy." The sidemen include such notables as trumpeters Kenny Dorham and Idrees Sulieman, drummers Art Blakey and Max Roach, vibraphonist Milt Jackson, altoist Lou Donaldson and tenor-saxophonist Lucky Thompson, but it is the unique pianist/composer who is the main star. Many of these recordings (generally the master takes) has been reissued in other forms by Blue Note.//Scott Yanow, allmusic.com

Tracklist:

CD 1:

01 - Humph (2:53)
02 - Evonce [Alternate Take] (3:02)
03 - Evonce (3:04)
04 - Suburban Eyes (3:01)
05 - Suburban Eyes [Alternate Take] (2:58)
06 - Thelonious (3:01)
07 - Nice Work If You Can Get It [Alternate Take] (3:03)
08 - Nice Work If You Can Get It (3:03)
09 - Ruby My Dear [Alternate Take] (3:06)
10 - Ruby My Dear (3:08)
11 - Well You Neednt (2:57)
12 - Well You Neednt [Alternate Take] (2:55)
13 - April In Paris [Alternate Take] (2:42)
14 - April In Paris (3:20)
15 - Off Minor (3:01)
16 - Introspection (3:12)
17 - In Walked Bud (2:56)
18 - Monks Mood (3:08)
19 - Who Knows? (2:41)
20 - Round Midnight (3:11)
21 - Who Knows? [Alternate Take] (2:40)

CD 2:

01 - All The Things You Are [1988 Digital Remaster] (2:59)
02 - I Should Care [Alternate Take] [1988 Digital Remaster] (3:03)
03 - I Should Care [1988 Digital Remaster] (3:01)
04 - Evidence [1988 Digital Remaster] (2:34)
05 - Misterioso [1988 Digital Remaster] (3:22)
06 - Misterioso [Alternate Take] [1988 Digital Remaster] (2:46)
07 - Epistrophy [1988 Digital Remaster] (3:08)
08 - I Mean You [1988 Digital Remaster] (2:47)
09 - Four In One [1988 Digital Remaster] (3:30)
10 - Four In One [Alternate Take] (3:29)
11 - Criss Cross [1988 Digital Remaster] (2:57)
12 - Criss Cross [Alternate Take] (2:51)
13 - Eronel [1988 Digital Remaster] (3:04)
14 - Straight No Chaser (2:57)
15 - Ask Me Now [Alternate Take] (4:28)
16 - Ask Me Now (3:16)
17 - Willow Weep For Me [1988 Digital Remaster] (3:00)

CD 3:

01 - Skippy (3:02)
02 - Skippy [Alternate Take] (3:10)
03 - HorninIn [Alternate Take] (3:09)
04 - HorninIn (3:15)
05 - Sixteen [First Take] (3:31)
06 - Sixteen [Second Take] (3:40)
07 - Carolina Moon (3:28)
08 - Lets Cool One (3:49)
09 - Ill Follow You (3:48)
10 - Reflections (7:03)
11 - Misterioso (9:22)

CD 4:

01 - Crepuscule With Nellie (Live) [Digitally Remastered '94] (3:03)
02 - Trinkle Tinkle (Live) [Digitally Remastered] (10:10)
03 - In Walked Bud (Live) [Digitally Remastered] (11:22)
04 - I Mean You (Live Version) [Digitally Remastered] (13:56)
05 - Epistrophy (Live Version) [Digitally Remastered '94] (5:19)

Musicians:

Ahmed Abdul-Malik (Bass), Art Blakey (Drums), Nelson Boyd (Bass), Paul Chambers (Bass), John Coltrane (Sax Tenor), Lou Donaldson (Sax Alto), Kenny Dorham (Trumpet), Kenny "Pancho" Hagood (Vocals), Percy Heath (Bass), Milt Jackson (Vibraphone), J.J. Johnson (Trombone), John Lewis (Piano), Al McKibbon (Bass), Thelonious Monk (Piano), Bob Paige (Bass), Gene Ramey (Bass), Max Roach (Drums), Sonny Rollins (Sax Tenor), Sahib Shihab (Sax Alto), Horace Silver (Piano), John Simmons (Bass), Bill Smith (Sax Tenor), Idrees Sulieman (Trumpet), George Taitt (Trumpet), Lucky Thompson (Sax Tenor), Danny Quebec West (Sax Alto), Shadow Wilson (Drums)