There would only be one other recorded occasion - Monk's 1963 Philharmonic Hall concert - when the unique pianist was as successfully featured with a larger ensemble. With Hal Overton contributing arrangements of Monk's tunes (including a remarkable transcription of Monk's original piano solo on 'Little Rootie Tootie') and solos provided by trumpeter Donald Byrd, trombonist Eddie Bert, altoist Phil Woods, Charlie Rouse on tenor, and baritonist Pepper Adams, this date was a real standout. 'Pianist Thelonious Monk's appearance with a tentet at a 1959 Town Hall concert was a major success. 'It is fascinating, listening to this music from 53 years ago, to reflect how very little it has dated.' 'Brilliant attempt to transfer the music to larger forces.' And so its funny how that record turns out to be a classic and probably the most important record that he did during his tenure at Riverside. By 1961, Monk had established a more or less permanent quartet consisting of Charlie Rouse on tenor saxophone, John Ore (later Butch Warren and then Larry Gales) on bass, and Frankie Dunlop (later Ben Riley) on drums. It was as if jazz audiences had finally caught up to MonkвЂ™s music. I think it was an eight city tour, that never occurred because the reviews were so bad Riverside got scared. Monk even led a successful big band at Town Hall in 1959. The Town Hall concert was really the kick-off for what was going to be a tour. Recorded at Town Hall, New York, on Saturday, February 28, 1959 Thelonious Monk (p), Charlie Rouse (ts), Sam Jones (b), and Art Taylor (d).Дonald Byrd (tp), Phil Woods (as), Pepper Adams (bs), Eddie Bert (tb), Robert Northern (frh), Jay McAllister (tuba), Thelonious Monk (p), Charlie Rouse (ts), Sam Jones (b), and Art Taylor (d). This concert features six NEA Jazz Masters, the nationвЂ™s highest honor in Jazz, including Jimmy Owens (2012 NEA Jazz Master) on trumpet, Kenny Barron (2010 NEA Jazz. Tracks #4-9, originally issued in the 12' LP Flushing Town HallвЂ™s annual NEA Jazz Masters concert returns live to play the music from two of the greatest pianists in the history of jazz: Thelonious Monk and Horace Silver. This performance marks one of the rare occasions in which Monk could present big band arrangements of his own compositions, this time prepared by Hall Overton with Monks assistance. This CD presents the complete original album The Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall (Riverside RLP12-300), as well as all other surviving music from that 1959 concert.

Thelonious monk town hall