Thelonious Monk Greatest Hits

Also available in a 3-pack with MILES DAVIS' GREATEST HITS and DAVE BRUBECK'S GREATEST HITS.
Personnel: Thelonious Monk (piano); Steve Lacy (soprano saxophone); Phil Woods (alto saxophone, clarinet); Charlie Rouse (tenor saxophone); Gene Allen (baritone saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet); Nick Travis (trumpet); Thad Jones (cornet); Eddie Bert (trombone); Pee Wee Russell (clarinet); Larry Gales, Butch Warren, John Ore (bass); Ben Riley, Frank Dunlop (drums).
Producer: Teo Macero.
Reissue producer: Nedra Olds-Neal.
Recorded between March 29, 1963 and November 19, 1968. Includes liner notes by Michael Zwerin.
Digitally remastered by Mark Wilder and Rob Schwarz (Sony Music Studios, New York, New York).
Although Greatest Hits samplers of jazz artists, particularly hard bop musicians, usually don't work particularly well, Columbia's attempt at compiling a Thelonious Monk Greatest Hits album actually succeeds in offering a good sampling of his some of his most familiar material. The collection contains many of his best-known songs, including "Well You Needn't," "Misterioso," "Round Midnight," "Ruby, My Dear," "Blue Monk," and "Straight, No Chaser." While this doesn't find Monk at his most adventurous, it does include some of his most accessible performances, and that makes it a good entry point for the curious. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

• Format: CD
• Genre: Jazz