THELONIOUS MONK Quartet "misterioso" LP NM/EX JAPAN 1975

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• AllMusic Review by Lindsay Planer  [-]
• This is the second long-player to be taken from the same August 1958 Five Spot recordings that had yielded the similarly brilliant Thelonious in Action The quartet heard on these sets includes Monk (piano), Johnny Griffin (tenor sax), Roy Haynes (drums), and Ahmed Abdul-Malik (bass). Their overwhelming and instinctual capacities directly contribute to the powerful swingin' and cohesive sound they could continually reinvent. While these are Monk's tunes, arrangements, and band, it is Griffin who consistently liberates the performances. During "Nutty," his flurry of activity -- which adeptly incorporates several lines from "Surrey With the Fringe on Top" -- has a maniacal swing that is highlighted by some definitive counterplay from both Haynes and Monk. Additionally, the transition between Haynes and Monk is organic and seemingly psychic. "Blues Five Spot" -- a 12-bar blues homage to their current residence -- features solos from each band member. Griffin and Monk again display the seemingly innate ability to instantly recalculate chord structures as well as transmute melodies. The show-stopping solo vamp from Griffin hurls the rhythm along while simultaneously dropping in quotes from other tunes -- such as the theme for the animated Popeye cinematic shorts. Malik's brief solo, like his band interaction, is underrated yet precisely executed. The title track is given an exploratory performance. While Griffin aptly seizes the reins to blow his bop onslaught, Haynes' natural and subdued agility perfectly supports the extended tenor solo, creating some unique passages. Ironically, the one Monk solo performance, "Just a Gigolo," is the only composition not by Monk.
• 
  
• The Thelonious Monk Quartet ?– Misterioso
• Label:
• Riverside Records ?– SMJ-6119
• Series:
• Riverside Original Recording Series – 61
• Format:
• Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
• Country:
• Japan
• Released:
• 1975
• Genre:
• Jazz
• Style:
• Hard Bop
• Tracklist
• A1 Nutty
• A2 Blues Five Spot
• A3 Let's Cool One
• B1 In Walked Bud
• B2 Just A Gigolo
• B3 Misterioso
• Companies, etc.
• Manufactured By – Victor Musical Industries, Inc.
• Recorded At – Five Spot Café
• Credits
• Bass – Ahmed Abdul-Malik
• Drums – Roy Haynes
• Engineer – Ray Fowler
• Piano – Thelonious Monk
• Producer, Liner Notes – Orrin Keepnews
• Tenor Saxophone – Johnny Griffin
• Notes
• Recorded at the Five Spot Cafe, New York City; August 1958.
• 
  
• ? 75
• 
  
• Includes Japanese liner notes.
• 
  

GOLDMINE GRADING

MINT ---- It should appear to be perfect. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains, labels or writing, tears or splits. Mint means perfect.

NEAR MINT ---- Otherwise mint but has one or two tiny inconsequential flaws that do not affect play. Covers should be close to perfect with minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident: slight ring-wear, minor denting to a corner, or writing on the cover should all be noted properly.

VERY GOOD PLUS ---- The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. Not too far from perfect. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of a sleeve or the vinyl or some of the original luster may be lost. A slight scratch that did not affect play would be acceptably VG+ for most collectors.

VERY GOOD ---- Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise, but should not overwhelm the musical experience. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc.

GOOD ---- Well played with little luster and significant surface noise. Despite defects, record should still play all the way through without skipping. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork.

POOR ---- Any record or cover that does not qualify for the above "Good" grading should be seen as Poor. Several cover flaws.