 | Thelonious in Action: Recorded at the Five Spot Cafe by Thelonious Monk Quartet
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $9.35 The most eccentric genius in jazz. Monk is an acquired taste so it's hard to say where to start a collection. This is the first Monk I ever bought back in the day. And it's still my favorite.
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 | Misterioso by Thelonious Monk Quartet
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $4.21 Second date at THE FIVE SPOT. Not as good as THELONIOUS IN ACTION, but still essential. Johnny Griffin plays tenor on both dates.
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 | Underground by Thelonious Monk
Buy new: $7.98 / Used from: $3.96 Monk's best COLUMBIA recording. A MASTERPIECE. I can't believe this isn't on more lists.
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 | Thelonious Alone in San Francisco by Thelonious Monk
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $4.98 Solo Monk. Just a genius and his piano. Beautiful.
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 | Thelonious Himself by Thelonious Monk
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $1.98 Often considered Monk's solo MASTERPIECE. Offbeat, elegant, and sad.
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 | Thelonious Monk Trio by Thelonious Monk Trio
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $4.97 Monk with just bass and drums. The best Monk Trio includes an abstract painting of Monk in his hat.
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 | Monk's Dream by Thelonious Monk
Buy new: $7.98 / Used from: $4.75 Straight ahead Monk. If Monk can ever be considered straight ahead. My second favorite COLUMBIA recording. I own an older copy without the extra tracks. You know how lucky you are?
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 | Brilliant Corners by Thelonious Monk
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $4.25 The tough to play stuff. Take 25 anyone? Monk needs a hat on this.
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 | Monk's Music by Thelonious Monk
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $5.45 A Masterpiece. Period...Man, I just wanna pull Monk around in his lil' red wagon.
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 | Solo Monk by Thelonious Monk
Buy new: $7.98 / Used from: $3.17 Another solo MASTERPIECE. Man, dig that crazy hat!! Pure GENIUS. With a bunch of extra takes and tracks. You'll need this one too.
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 | Criss-Cross by Thelonious Monk
Buy new: $7.98 / Used from: $4.23 This followed MONK'S DREAM. Another must own.
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 | Straight, No Chaser by Thelonious Monk
Buy new: $7.98 / Used from: $4.23 Released in the mid 60's after all the attention from his TIME magazine cover. Contains restored piano work that was cut from this session to make room on the LP. Man, aren't CDs great?
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 | Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane by Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $2.85 It's Coltrane and Monk. With the Hawk playing on one track. That's enough.
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 | Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall by Thelonious Monk
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $4.45 If you draw a caricature of Monk, be sure to include his hat. One of the bosses at work keeps telling me how good this is. Of course it is, Coltrane is playing on it. Haven't got it yet.
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 | It's Monk's Time by Thelonious Monk
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $2.99 Monk's Coolest hat! And the best Monk on COLUMBIA you've never heard.
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 | Live at the Jazz Workshop--Complete by Thelonious Monk
Buy used from: $18.99 Recorded immediately after THE IT CLUB set (below) . Although the critics tend to favor that set, I like this one just a little better. The players seem more relaxed. You decide.
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 | Live at the It Club by Thelonious Monk
Buy new: $15.98 / Used from: $9.49 The amazing IT CLUB set from '64. If this is a better LIVE date it's because Monk was probably wearing a better hat. What the heck? Buy both of them. It's only money.
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 | Monk in Paris: Live at the Olympia by Thelonious Monk
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $8.29 A year and a half later the same Quartet did this stunning LIVE date. There's nothing quite like a LIVE Monk recording. Avoid MONK IN FRANCE on OJC. It's not one of his best live dates.
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 | Monk. by Thelonious Monk
Buy used from: $4.79 Reissued Monk. Man, this went OUT OF PRINT fast. Buy this one used, because Monk is wearin' his Noir hat.
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 | Thelonious Monk - Straight No Chaser
Buy used from: $43.50 See the movie. The famous Monk quote from this famous film: "I'm famous?...Now, ain't that a b*tch?" Given to us by Executive Producer Clint Eastwood. A MUST OWN.
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 | Jazz Icons: Thelonious Monk Live in '66
Buy new: $17.99 / Used from: $5.95 From THE JAZZ ICON SERIES.
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 | Straight, No Chaser: The Life And Genius Of Thelonious Monk by Leslie Gourse
Buy new: $21.33 / Used from: $14.85 Read the book. Not a lot of great books on the man, so this will have to do. ENJOY THE MONK.
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