Thelonious Monk

Trio Thelonious Monk

With the sole exception of an October 24, 1947 Blue

Note date, Thelonious Monk didn't record any trio

sides during the early years of his career other than

the ones presented on this LP, which were taped for

Prestige in 1952 and 1954. These were Monk's first

recorded versions of all of the compositions included.

Considering his lack of recording opportunities,

however, it can't be assumed that he composed

them all strictly for the 1952-1954 sessions. Some

of them had been written many years earlier, as

Monk is known to have already composed many of

his tunes by 1944. Other than the pianist's original

compositions, the trio also cut two standards,

"These Foolish Things" and "Sweet and Lovely".

"Just a Gigolo" was the only unaccompanied piano

performance of the sessions.

THELONIOUS MONK, piano

On all tracks, plus:

A1-A4: GARY MAPP, bass; ART BLAKEY, drums.

New York, October 15, 1952.

A5-A6 & B3-B4: GARY MAPP, bass; MAX ROACH, drums.

New York, December 18, 1952.

A7, B1-B2 & B5: PERCY HEATH, bass; ART BLAKEY, drums.

Hackensack, New Jersey, September 22, 1954.

[On B2 Monk plays unaccompanied piano.]

All original sessions recorded by Rudy Van Gelder

& produced by Bob Weinstock.