Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Thelonious Monk: Brilliant Corners

Thelonious Monk: Brilliant Corners

By Richard J Salvucci
October 19, 2023
View read count

Writing about being "lost for words" is not the ideal way of starting a review, but it may be the plain truth. Perhaps

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk is an acquired taste. Perhaps not. Whatever the case, this particular release of Brilliant Corners is just that—brilliant.

The whole package is superb and really defines Craft Recordings "Small Batch" vinyl series. The technical literature accompanying the recording says "Each edition is cut from its original analog tapes by Bernie Grundman and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI using Neotech's VR900 compound and a one-step lacquer process—as opposed to the standard three-step process—allowing for the utmost level of musical detail, clarity, and dynamics while reducing the amount of surface noise on the record." Craft delivers as advertised.

The pressing and sound quality are superb, obvious even to someone who is not exactly qualified as an audiophile. The package is not inexpensive, but, frankly, is worth every cent. Even on a mid-range setup, every note (especially the celesta on "Panonnica") is crystalline, with Monk's dissonances and occasional clams sharply resonant. The pesante groan of "Brilliant Corners," Monk's fiendishly difficult original, literally skids across the room. The recording was released in early 1957, but it sounds fresh—real genius. Too bad that the MacArthur Foundation was not handing out its largesse in those days, because Monk would have been a no-brainer on the strength of this recording. No exaggeration.

The backstory to the recording session is part of Ashley Kahn's typically absorbing contribution, which is included separately. How many takes, how much editing, how many personnel changes, and why? Anyone who has wondered why

Ernie Henry

saxophone, alto
1926 - 1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Ernie Henry and

Oscar Pettiford

bass
1922 - 1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Oscar Pettiford did not stick around for the whole session, will get an implied answer from Kahn. In fact, Kahn's valuable discussion easily justifies the reissue itself. And if all this is not enough, there is Monk's breathtaking, wholly spontaneous, and really moving version of "I Surrender, Dear." The same Monk who wrote "Bemsha Swing" nearly leaves a listener in tears at "I Surrender."

Clark Terry

trumpet
1920 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Clark Terry actually sounds as if he got what Monk was doing on "Bemsha," so his chorus has always seemed so appropriate and all too brief. On top of that,

Max Roach

drums
1925 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Max Roach's kit and percussion are literally thunderous, perhaps more than one might have recalled. Somehow, all of it worked, in no small part due to Orin Keepnews, producer and founder at Riverside Records, who had just the personality to manage what must have seemed like collective insanity at times.

Anyone serious about the history of jazz in the '50s will find something new in the well-designed package. About the only complaint is that the print on Kahn's insert is a little tough on eyes of a certain vintage. Fortunately, the new technology that has given birth to the vinyl renaissance provides numerous solutions for experienced eyes. It is poor form to rave in a review, but if Monk, Craft and Brilliant Corners do not merit it, then who or what does?

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Brilliant Corners; Ba-lue Bolivar Ba-lues-are; Pannonica; I Surrender Dear; Bemsha Swing.

Personnel

Thelonious Monk

piano

Sonny Rollins

saxophone

Oscar Pettiford

bass

Paul Chambers

bass, acoustic

Max Roach

drums

Clark Terry

trumpet

Ernie Henry

saxophone, alto

Album information

Title: Brilliant Corners | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Craft Recordings

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Herb Alpert & Lani Hall At Gates Con...
< Previous

New Past
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.