The Thelonious Monk Quartet - Monk’s Dream (IMPEX)
Thelonious Monk, piano [click here to see more vinyl featuring Thelonious Monk]
Charlie Rouse, tenor sax [click here to see more vinyl featuring Charlie Rouse]
John Ore, bass
Frankie Dunlop, drums
1 LP, Stoughton Tip On sleeve
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 33RPM
Size : 12”
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : RTI
Label : Impex Records
Original Label : Columbia
Recorded October 31, November 1, 2 & 6, 1962 at Columbia 30th Street Studio, New York City
Produced by Teo Macero
Remastered by Kevin Gray
Originally released in 1963
Reissued in 2017
Tracks:
Side A :
- Monk’s Dream
- Body and Soul
- Bright Mississippi
- Five Spot Blues
Side B :
- Bolivar Blues
- Just a Gigolo
- Bye-Ya
- Sweet and Lovely
Reviews :
"If this record doesn't get your feet tapping and your head nodding (and not as in "out"!) I'm not sure what would... The recording trades natural space for honest tonality and incredible immediacy and excellent dynamics. Where Monk solos on the standards he gets a big spread across the stage almost taken from his keyboard perspective... Here the transparency, immediacy and transient clarity surpass that of the original and without losing any of the original's more attractive qualities. The reissue is surely lower in distortion on the dynamic peaks and the blacker backgrounds heighten the instrumental relief... A great reissue and very highly recommended... If you have no Monk albums, this would be a good place to start." - Michael Fremer, www.analogplanet.com
"Produced by Teo Macero, Monk's Dream was the first LP for his new label, and would also become the best selling of Monk's career... The sound here, as compared to original mono and stereo pressings, is more dynamically nimble and present, as well as tonally somewhat cooler. But if the early LPs sound warmer, they also have a hooded coloration that floats over the sound, making them sound more homogenized, and not as lively as this fine Impex reissue." - Wayne Garcia, The Absolute Sound
"Monk's Dream is the Columbia Records debut release featuring the Thelonious Monk Quartet: Monk (piano), Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), John Ore (bass), and Frankie Dunlop (drums). Jazz scholars and enthusiasts alike also heralded this combo as the best Monk had been involved with for several years. Although he would perform and record supported by various other musicians, the tight -- almost telepathic -- dimensions that these four shared has rarely been equalled in any genre. By the early '60s, bop had become considered passé by artists as well as fans looking for the next musical trend. This is coupled with the fact that discerning Monk fans would have undoubtedly recognized many of these titles from several live recordings issued at the end of his tenure on Riverside. Not to belabor the point, however, but precious few musicians understood the layer upon layer of complexities and challenges that Monk's music created. On tracks such as "Five Spot Blues" and "Bolivar Blues," Rouse and Dunlop demonstrate their uncanny abilities by squeezing in well-placed instrumental fills, while never getting hit by the unpredictable rhythmic frisbees being tossed about by Monk. Augmenting the six quartet recordings are two solo sides: "Just a Gigolo" and "Body and Soul." Most notable about Monk's solo work is how much he retained the same extreme level of intuition throughout the nearly two decades that separate these recordings from his initial renderings in the late '40s. Monk's Dream is recommended, with something for every degree of Monk enthusiast." AllMusic Review by Lindsay Planer
"The sound of this new issue is to die for and then some. Impex releases only a handful of LPs each year, but its track record for taste and great sound is unrivaled. Perfect in every way!" - Dennis Davis, HiFi+
Ratings :
AllMusic : 5 / 5 , Discogs : 4,61 / 5 , Michael Fremer : Music 9/10, Sound 9/10 , The Absolute Sound : Music 4/5, Sonics 3.5/5 , HiFi+ : 10 out of 10 for Recording & Music