Backgrounder: Herbie Nichols Trio - Master Takes

Pianist Herbie Nichols has long been considered a Thelonious Monk disciple. In truth, Nichols had his own modernist bag that combined bebop's jagged attack and Dixieland's hard syncopation. A fascinating artist who was largely ignored during his lifetime (1919-1963), Nichols is perhaps best known for penning the jazz standard Lady Sings the Blues.

Nichols began recording as a leader in 1955 after begging Blue Note's Alfred Lion to capture him in the studio. On his first albums, The Prophetic Herbie Nichols Vols. 1 and 2, he was joined by bassist Al McKibbon and drummer Art Blakey. His third Blue Note album, Herbie Nichols Trio, was recorded in 1955 and '56, with McKibbon and Teddy Kotick, separately, on bass and Max Roach on drums. His last album was recorded in 1957—with George Duvivier on bass and Dannie Richmond on drums.

Many critics complained that one Monk was enough or that Nichols sounded as if he were playing standards backward. Not until his Blue Note recordings were released by Mosaic in 1987 was Nichols reconsidered by a new generation of jazz fans. I love his music. There's a wonderful mix of abstraction and drama in his playing, resulting in a special, singular groove.

Here's 2 1/2 hours of Herbie Nichols without ad interruptions...