Thelonious Monk
Riverside Trios
Play Riverside Trios
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AMG Review of Riverside Trios
Scott Yanow
All Music GuideWhen Thelonious Monk first signed with Riverside Records in 1955, producer Orrin Keepnews thought that it would be a good idea for the unrecognized giant to record an album of Duke Ellington compositions and follow it up with a set of standards so as to discount his eccentric and forbidding image. The results were quite satisfying, trio performances with bassist Oscar Pettiford and either Kenny Clarke or Art Blakey on drums that made Monk's playing seem more accessible to the regular jazz audience without watering down his style. This two-LP set contains both albums (the program of Ellington's music is particularly unique) and is very enjoyable.
 "Riverside Trios")
