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Complete Columbia Studio Albums (Monk's Dream/Criss Cross/It's Monk's Time/Monk/Straight No Chaser/Underground) (6CD set)

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Amazing sounds from Thelonious Monk – some of his greatest albums ever, cut during the same legendary stretch of Columbia Records jazz that also included work by Miles Davis and Dave Brubeck! In the early 60s, Monk came to the label as a fully-formed pioneer on the forefront of jazz – a key modernist who'd already transformed the sound of the music in the 40s and 50s – given a surprisingly great amount of freedom and respect by Columbia – who also helped him to focus his powers, too! All of the tracks here are by Monk's key Quartet with Charlie Rouse on tenor – an amazing player who really gave voice to all the ideas that Thelonious had been trying out with John Coltrane and Johnny Griffin a few years before – and delivered the results with a surprising degree of soul, too. Bassist John Ore and drummer Frankie Dunlop really help swing the group too – and most records feature this core lineup, slightly augmented on a few tracks – such as on the album Underground, where Jon Hendricks delivers a bit of vocals. Package features the full albums Monk's Dream, Criss Cross, It's Monk's Time, Monk, Underground, and Straight No Chaser – all packaged in tiny LP-styled sleeves, in a cool box!  © 1996-2013, Dusty Groove, Inc.