Thelonious Monk & John Coltrane: The Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings

These recordings, made in April, June and July of 1957 and presented chronologically on the album, demonstrate how evenly Monk and Coltrane worked together at that time. The sessions feature Monk's septet, trio and quartet. Art Blakey and Wilbur Ware drive the septet with authority; everybody takes spirited solos and jams. With the first stereo release of "Blues for Tomorrow, we get to enjoy the septet with superb sound reproduction. While Monk lays out on this one, it stands out as an incredible blowing session.

The alternate takes sound alike, and while it's fun to compare the tracks and explore every nuance, we get much the same from each one. Several, however, do vary greatly from one to the next, mainly through different solos. The longest tracks, where Monk and his septet members stretch out creatively, have the greatest impact. The album contains extended versions of "Well, You Needn't, "Epistrophy and "Blues for Tomorrow.

The final three tracks on the program feature Monk and Coltrane in a quartet session from July of 1957. Each of these three selections comes fully formed, without false starts or alternate takes.

These valuable Riverside sessions feature some of jazz's great legends at work, creating and drawing strength from one another. Monk's music makes each track memorable.