the intro, so the others can hear how it works.) There is also a priceless version of "Ruby, My Dear" on which Hawkins plays only with the trio.
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Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane (Jazzland/OJC-039) contains alternate takes of "Off Minor" and "Epistrophy" from the Monk's Music session, but the real prizes here are three tracks by the quartet Monk led at the New York club the Five Spot in the summer of 1957, with Coltrane, bassist Wilbur Ware, and drummer Shadow Wilson. The version of "Ruby, My Dear'' makes a fascinating comparison with the one Hawkins recorded a month earlier; both are beautiful, in completely different ways. The tune certainly draws out Coltrane's lyrical side. His more searching side comes out on the intricate "Trinkle, Tinkle," where Coltrane explores every corner of the harmonies and rhythms; at one point Monk drops out, leaving Coltrane to play with just bass and drum accompaniment. The set also includes one of Monk's best solo piano performances, the long blues titled "Functional."
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In 1993 Blue Note released a CD containing recently unearthed live performances recorded by the Monk-Coltrane quartet at the Five Spot in the summer of 1957, with Ahmed-Abdul Malik and Roy Haynes taking the places of Ware and Wilson. The Thelonious Monk Quartet Featuring John Coltrane - Live at the Five Spot. Discovery! (Blue Note CDP 0777 7 99786 2 5) is made up of performances of "Trinkle, Tinkle," "In Walked Bud," "I Mean You," "Epistrophy," and "Crepuscule with Nellie," recorded in ultra-low fidelity. You can, however, hear what is going on well enough; Monk was in a swinging, extroverted mood that night, and Coltrane was breathing fire. The historical significance of these recordings perhaps exceeds the listening pleasure afforded by them, but if you are a Monk or Trane fan, they provide all the pleasure you need.
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One of the most enjoyable Monk albums is The Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall (Riverside/OJC-135), which features Monk in front of a large ensemble playing expanded versions of some of his best tunes, including "Monk's Mood" and a version of "Little Rootie Tootie" transcribed from his trio recording of the tune. The ensemble includes trumpet, trombone, French horn, tuba, and alto, tenor, and baritone saxes. There are fine solos by trumpeter Donald Byrd, altoist Phil Woods, and baritonist Pepper Adams on "Little Rootie Tootie," which is one of the most infectious jazz performances ever recorded. This is also the first meeting on record of Monk and tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse, who would work with Monk throughout the 1960s.
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Two albums recorded live at the Five Spot in 1958, Thelonious in Action (Riverside/OJC-103) and Misterioso (Riverside/OJC-206), feature the Monk quartet
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