Sessionography 1955-1957
1955
June 10, 1955
“Steve Allen Show” TV-cast, Hudson Theatre, NYC
Thelonious Monk Sextet
Personnel: Art Farmer (tp); Eddie Bert (tb); Teo Macero (ts); Thelonious Monk (p); Charles Mingus (b); Willie Jones (d). Steve Allen (mc).
Intro/Interview
Off Minor
Well You Needn’t
Notes: All titles unreleased.
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July 17, 1955
VOA Broadcast
Newport Jazz Festival, Freebody Park, Newport, RI
Newport Jazz Festival All-Stars
Personnel: Miles Davis (tp); John “Zoot” Sims (ts); Gerry Mulligan (bs); Thelonious Monk (p); Percy Heath (b); Connie Kay (d). Duke Ellington (mc).
Introduction by Duke Ellington
Hackensack
‘Round Midnight
Now’s the Time
Notes: All titles on Miles Davis, Miles Davis: Miscellaneous Davis, 1955-1957 (JUCD 2050)
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July 21 and 27, 1955
Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, N.J.
Thelonious Monk Trio
Personnel: Thelonious Monk (p) Oscar Pettiford (b) Kenny Clarke (d)
It Don’t Mean a Thing
Sophisticated Lady
I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good
Black and Tan Fantasy
Mood Indigo
I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart
Solitude (p-solo)
Caravan
Notes: All titles on Thelonious Monk Plays Duke Ellington (RLP 12-201). All titles on Thelonious Monk — The Complete Riverside Recordings (Riv 15RCD-022-2)
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October 15, 1955
Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, N.J.
Gigi Gryce Quartet
Personnel: Gigi Gryce (as) Thelonious Monk (p) Percy Heath (b) Art Blakey (d)
Brake’s Sake
Gallop’s Gallop
Shuffle Boil
Nica’s Tempo
Notes: All titles on, Gigi Gryce: Quartet and Orchestra (Signal S 1201) and Gigi Gryce, Nica’s Tempo (Savoy MG 12137), also reissued as a CD.
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1956
March 17, 1956
Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, N.J.
Thelonious Monk Trio
Personnel: Thelonious Monk (p) Oscar Pettiford (b) Art Blakey (d)
Liza
Memories of You (p-solo)
You Are Too Beautiful
Just You, Just Me
Notes: All titles on The Unique Thelonious Monk (RLP 12-209), and Thelonious Monk — The Complete Riverside Recordings (Riv 15RCD-022-2)
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April 3, 1956
Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, N.J.
Thelonious Monk Trio
Personnel: Thelonious Monk (p) Oscar Pettiford (b) Art Blakey (d)
Honeysuckle Rose
Darn That Dream
Tea For Two
Notes: Same as above.
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Late Summer, 1956
Pannonica de Koenigswarter’s apartment, Bolivar Hotel, New York City
Thelonious Monk solo piano
Pannonica
Lulu’s Back in Town
Notes: These were homemade recordings made by Nica de Koenigswarter on her portable Wollensack reel-to-reel tape recorder. They represent a large cache of recordings she made over fifteen years, most of which have never been released. (see Kelley, Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original). These titles were released as part of the soundtrack to Charlotte Zwerin’s film, Straight, No Chaser, and are available on Straight, No Chaser [Soundtrack] (Col CK45358 [CD])
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October 9, 1956
Reeves Sound Studios, New York
Thelonious Monk Quintet
Personnel: Ernie Henry (as) Sonny Rollins (ts) Thelonious Monk (p, celeste) Oscar Pettiford (b) Max Roach (d)
Ba-lue Bolivar Ba-lues-are
Pannonica (opening)
Pannonica
Notes: All titles on Brilliant Corners (Riverside RLP12-226), and Thelonious Monk — The Complete Riverside Recordings (Riv 15RCD-022-2)
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October 15, 1956
Reeves Sound Studios, New York
Thelonious Monk Quintet
Personnel: Ernie Henry (as) Sonny Rollins (ts) Thelonious Monk (p) Oscar Pettiford (b) Max Roach (d)
Brilliant Corners
Notes: Same as above.
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December 7, 1956
Reeves Sound Studios, New York
Thelonious Monk Quintet
Personnel: Clark Terry (tp) Sonny Rollins (ts) Thelonious Monk (p) Paul Chambers (b) Max Roach (d, tymp)
Bemsha Swing
I Surrender Dear (p-solo)
Notes: Same as above.
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1957
February 9, 1957
Blue Note, Philadelphia (Live Broadcast)
Thelonious Monk Trio
Personnel: Thelonious Monk (p) Jimmy Bond (b) Albert “Tootie” Heath (d)
Well, You Needn’t
‘Round Midnight
Light Blue
Notes: All titles on this recording unreleased.
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April 5, 1957
Reeves Sound Studios, New York
Thelonious Monk (p)
tk 5 Ghost of a Chance
tk 7 Ghost of a Chance Riv RLP 12-235
tk 1 I Should Care
tk 2 I Should Care
tk 3 I Should Care Riv RLP 12-235
tk 1/6 ‘Round Midnight (in progress: 21:51)
tk 7 ‘Round Midnight Riv RLP 12-235
Notes: Riverside RLP 12-235 is titled, Thelonious Himself. All titles on Thelonious Monk — The Complete Riverside Recordings (Riv 15RCD-022-2)
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April 14, 1957
Van Gelder’s Studio, Hackensack, NJ
Sonny Rollins Quintet
Personnel: J. J. Johnson (tb) Sonny Rollins (ts) Horace Silver (p) Thelonious Monk (p-1) Paul Chambers (b) Art Blakey (d)
Reflections (tk 6)
Misterioso (tk 12)
Notes: Both titles on Blue Note BLP1558, Sonny Rollins: Vol. 2. Both titles also available on Thelonious Monk: The Complete Blue Note Recordings (CDP 7243 5 30363 2-6) J. J. Johnson and Horace Silver only play on “Misterioso”; “Reflections” consists of just Rollins, Monk, and the rhythm section.
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April 16, 1957
Reeves Sound Studios, New York City
Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane
Personnel: John Coltrane (ts) Thelonious Monk (p) Wilbur Ware (b)
April in Paris 5
I’m Getting Sentimental Over You
Functional (tk 1)
Functional (tk2)
All Alone
Monk’s Mood (false start)
Monk’s Mood
Notes: All titles except “Functional” (tk 1) and “Monk’s Mood” (false start) on Thelonious Himself (Riverside RLP 12-235). All titles on Thelonious Monk — The Complete Riverside Recordings (Riv 15RCD-022-2).
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May 14, 1957
Capitol Studios, New York City
Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk
Personnel: Bill Hardman (tp) Johnny Griffin (ts) Thelonious Monk (p) Spanky DeBrest (b) Art Blakey (d)
2560-1/2 Blue Monk (rejected)
2560-3 Blue Monk (rejected)
2560-5 Blue Monk (rejected)
2560-6 Blue Monk (rejected)
2560-7 Blue Monk (rejected)
2560-8 Blue Monk (rejected)
2560-9 Blue Monk (rejected)
2560-10 Blue Monk Rhino R2 75598-2
2561-1/2 Evidence (rejected)
2561-4 Evidence Rhino R2 75598-2
2561-5/6 Evidence (rejected)
2561-7 Evidence (rejected)
2561-8/9 Evidence (rejected)
2561-10 Evidence (rejected)
Notes: The CD Rhino R2 75598-2 is titled Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk. On the original release on Rhino, “Evidence” was mistakenly titled “I Mean You.”
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May 15, 1957
Capitol Studios, New York City
Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk
Personnel: same as above
2564-1/2 I Mean You (rejected)
2564-3 I Mean You Rhino R2 75598-2
2564-6 I Mean You Atlantic LP/SD1278; Rhino R2 75598-2
2561-1-3 Evidence (rejected)
2561-4 Evidence (rejected)
2561-5 Evidence (rejected)
2561-6 Evidence Atlantic LP/SD1278; Rhino R2 75598-2
2560-1-4 Blue Monk (rejected)
2560-5 Blue Monk Atlantic LP/SD1278; Rhino R2 75598-2
2563 Purple Shades Atlantic LP/SD1278; Rhino R2 75598-2
2562 Rhythm-a-ning Atlantic LP/SD1278; Rhino R2 75598-2
2565 In Walked Bud Atlantic LP/SD1278; Rhino R2 75598-2
Notes: Atlantic LP/SD1278, titled Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk, was also released on CD as Atlantic 1278-2 [CD].
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June 25, 1957
Reeves Sound Studios, New York,
Thelonious Monk Septet
Personnel: Ray Copeland (tp) Gigi Gryce (as) Coleman Hawkins, John Coltrane (ts) Thelonious Monk (p) Wilbur Ware (b) Art Blakey (d)
Crepuscule with Nellie (take 1)
Crepuscule with Nellie (breakdown)
Blues for Tomorrow (omit Monk)
Notes: All titles available on Thelonious Monk — The Complete Riverside Recordings (Riv 15RCD-022-2). On the “breakdown” of “Crepuscule with Nellie,” only the trio plays (Monk, Ware and Blakey).
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June 26, 1957
Reeves Sound Studios, New York
Thelonious Monk Septet
Personnel: Same as above.
Off Minor (take 4) (alt)
Off Minor (take 5) Riv RLP12-242
*Abide with Me (tk 1)
*Abide with Me Riv RLP12-242
Crepuscule with Nellie (breakdown)
Crepuscule with Nellie (stereo; takes 4/5) (alt)
Crepuscule with Nellie (take 6) Riv RLP12-242
Epistrophy Riv RLP12-242
Epistrophy (fragment)
Well You Needn’t (opening)
Well You Needn’t Riv RLP12-242
Ruby, My Dear (ch + rhythm only) Riv RLP12-242
Ruby, My Dear (alt tk)
Notes: RLP 12-242 was titled Monk’s Music. All titles on Thelonious Monk — The Complete Riverside Recordings (Riv 15RCD-022-2), and The Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings (Riverside/Concord RCD2-30027-2)
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July 1957
Reeves Sound Studios, New York
Thelonious Monk Quartet
Personnel: John Coltrane (ts) Thelonious Monk (p) Wilbur Ware (b) Shadow Wilson (d)
Nutty
Ruby, My Dear
Trinkle Tinkle
Notes: All titles on Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane (Jazzland JLP [9]46), and Thelonious Monk — The Complete Riverside Recordings (Riv 15RCD-022-2), and The Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings (Riverside/Concord RCD2-30027-2)
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Late July/Early August, 1957
Five Spot Cafe, New York
Thelonious Monk Quartet
Personnel: John Coltrane (ts) Thelonious Monk (p) Wilbur Ware (b) Shadow Wilson (d)
Nutty
Ruby, My Dear
Notes: Private tape in Monk family possession.
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August 12, 1957
Reeves Sound Studios, New York
Thelonious Monk and Gerry Mulligan
Personnel: Gerry Mulligan (bar) Thelonious Monk (p) Wilbur Ware (b) Shadow Wilson (d)
tk 1 Straight No Chaser (alt take)
tk 3 Straight No Chaser Riv RLP12-247
tk 1 Rhythm-a-ning Riv RLP12-247
tk 1 I Mean You (alt take)
tk 2 I Mean You (alt take)
tk 4 I Mean You Riv RLP12-247
Notes: Riv RLP 12-247 titled Mulligan Meets Monk. All titles on Thelonious Monk — The Complete Riverside Recordings (Riv 15RCD-022-2), and The Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings (Riverside/Concord RCD2-30027-2)
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August 13, 1957
Reeves Sound Studios, New York
Thelonious Monk and Gerry Mulligan
Personnel: Gerry Mulligan (bar) Thelonious Monk (p) Wilbur Ware (b) Shadow Wilson (d)
tk 1 ‘Round Midnight
tk 3 Sweet and Lovely
tk 4 Decidedly
tk 5 Decidedly
Notes: All titles except for take 4 of “Decidedly” first released on Mulligan Meets Monk (Riv RLP12-247) All titles on Thelonious Monk — The Complete Riverside Recordings (Riv 15RCD-022-2), and Thelonious Monk, The Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings (Riverside/Concord RCD2-30027-2)
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November 29, 1957
Carnegie Hall, New York City
Thelonious Monk Quartet With John Coltrane
Personnel: John Coltrane (ts) Thelonious Monk (p) Ahmed Abdul-Malik (b) Shadow Wilson (d)
Monk’s Mood
Evidence
Crepuscule With Nellie
Nutty
Epistrophy
Bye-Ya
Sweet And Lovely
Blue Monk
Epistrophy (incomplete)
Notes: All songs released on Thelonious Monk Quartet With John Coltrane At Carnegie Hall (Blue Note CDP 0946 3 35173-2-5; Mosaic MQ1-231)
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December 8, 1957
“Sound of Jazz” Broadcast
CBS Studio 58, New York City
Thelonious Monk Trio
Personnel: Thelonious Monk (p) Ahmed Abdul-Malik (b) Osie Johnson (d)
Blue Monk
Notes: First released on The Real Sound of Jazz (Pumpkin 116). The entire broadcast is available on DVD Sound of Jazz: Complete Edition (Jazz Masters 2005)]