Monk's Music
Released
Opening, oddly but sweetly, with a lovely all-horn arrangement of the hymn “Abide With Me,” Monk’s Music then segues into a beautifully arranged, mid-tempo take on “Well, You Needn’t” that features John Coltrane, who had recently joined Monk’s band (you can hear Monk summoning him for a solo if you listening carefully). Most of the music on this album had been recorded previously, but these versions featuring Coltrane, Gigi Gryce, Wilbur Ware, Art Blakey, Ray Copeland, and Coleman Hawkins have a special sparkle to them.