Art & Thelonius Monk Blakey

Jazz Connection Art & Thelonius Monk Blakey

Art Blakey was present on both Thelonious Monk's

fi rst and last studio sessions, spanning a period of

24 years from the 1947 quintet and trio recordings

to the last sets taped in London in 1971, when

Blakey and Monk were touring with the group

called the "Giants of Jazz" (which also included

Sonny Stitt, Dizzy Gillespie, Kai Winding and Al

McKibbon). Although this album marks Monk's sole

recording as a member of Art Blakey's celebrated

Jazz Messengers, the pianist and drummer were

very close friends who understood each other well

on both a personal and musical level. In fact, With

the exception of Johnny Griffi n's "Purple Shades,"

all of the compositions on this album are classic

Thelonious Monk tunes.