Riverside 12-209 the original US release enjoyed a slightly less atmospheric cover, followed shortly by a Riverside promotional “postage stamp” campaign cover. UK first release on Decca’s London label, with pressing by Decca, New Malden.The atmospheric cover photograph of Monk is probably on of the finest advertisements FOR smoking ever seen: beautiful duotone printing, side-lit profile, creative genius scoring music (he can write!) while whisps of cigarette smoke curl in the darkness, let down only by the absent hat. Vinyl: London LTZ-U 15071 1st UK release of RLP 12-209 vinyl 160 gm “ Because when we record I’ll probably be playing something completely different…” As always with Monk, expect the unexpected. “Don’t pay too much attention to what I’m playing behind you,” Monk cautioned. In the notes to The Complete Thelonious Monk on Riverside, producer Orrin Keepnews recalls overhearing the pianist preparing a sideman for a recording session. Indeed, the problem for the critic is that ultimately all Monk’s recordings are must-have. Jazz critics consider his following Riverside release, Brilliant Corners, the must-have, but for it’s subversive delights, Unique is a strong contender. At times it is like letting Nightmare on Elm Street’s Freddie Kreuger loose in Santa’s Grotto. Without the benefit of the forceful compositions of Monk’s later recordings, we are offered instead deceptively familiar standards, which are then subjected to Monk’s unique approach to melody, harmony and tempo. It marked a continuation of Keepnews’s strategy to broaden consumer interest in Monk by having him record cover versions of well-known material which, Riverside hoped, would help to break down the prevailing perception that Monk’s original music was “too difficult” for mass-market acceptance.įeaturing strong performances from Monk and his early group members, Art Blakey and Oscar Pettiford, the album itself is sometimes overlooked. Monk was signed by Orin Keepnews to his Riverside label in 1955, and like Monk’s Riverside debut, Thelonious Monk Plays The Music Of Duke Ellington (Riverside RLP 12-201 ) The Unique Thelonious consists only of standards. Thelonious Monk (p) Oscar Pettiford (b) Art Blakey (d) Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, March 17, and April 3, 1956 Track Selection: Tea for Two (Caesar, Youmans) – re-ripped