Thelonious Monk: Two Hours With Thelonious / European Concerts auf 2 CDs

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When it comes to a giant like Thelonious Monk, it seems like everything he did was of relevance, and these splendid concert performances are no exception. They were taped in Paris and Milan, during the first European tour of Monk's quartet during the spring of 1961. It is an absorbing program of Monk's originals except for the four standards-three of them performed as unaccompanied piano solos- that might just as well be originals, so startling is their transformation in his hands. Monk always played with such wit and unerring time that he was a consistent joy to hear. Charlie Rouse's very personal manner became leaner in his years with Monk, as he assimilated perfectly the leader's style, so much so that he seems the pianist's alter ego. John Ore and Frankie Dunlop reacted beautifully and supplied solid rhythm support throughout.