Thelonious Monk

This double-CD set of archival material documents Thelonious Monk's complete process of transforming the American Popular Song "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" into a version that bears his individualistic and distinctive stamp. The first CD consists of home based solo piano practice and refining sessions from 1957, as you hear Monk actually learning or playing with the melody and chord changes, then with each of the five takes, gradually redefining the song, adding his own touches, and embellishing on them. As he continues to play, he's attempting ever wider variations, inserting arpeggiated figures, his trademark off minor flourishes, stride accents, and at the end, offers a near 30 minute long version of ever expanding and personalized substitutions while still holding true to the basic form of the piece in moderate tempo throughout. The second CD has Monk sounding more patient and, if possible, deliberate but always witty for the final practice take. Then you hear a serving of three live performances with his quartet from various concerts from Paris or Stockholm done in 1963, 1964, and 1961, respectively, featuring the ever present tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse. These shows are much more lively than the private tapes. It is the final selection, from Stockholm in 1961, where Monk and the band really nail the piece in a concise eight-minute version that leaves no doubt of his mastery and ability to make the tune truly his own. These recordings are made available for the first time by Monk's estate supervised by his son T.S., and though they'll probably only appeal to fans or completists, they offer something perhaps no other recording in the history of jazz can claim: a full view into the conception, birth, adoption, adaptation and growth into adulthood of a single composition. It is, at the very least, a very intriguing exercise, made more so by the brilliant maestro of modern music. ~ Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide