Hardcore jazzheads with no doubt be delighted with this double-disc set that includes all the recordings
Thelonious Monk and
John Coltrane did together in 1957 for Riverside. Never mind that the vast majority of this material has been issued several times. There are two cuts that have never appeared before: an alternate of "Crepuscule with Nellie" from the septet sessions for
Monk's Music on June 25 and 26 ( with
Gigi Gryce,
Coleman Hawkins, bassist
Wilbur Ware, and drummer
Shadow Wilson), and an alternate of "Abide with Me" with just
Trane,
Hawkins, and
Gryce. There are also two tracks -- one of them a false start with
Ware and
Coltrane -- of "Monk's Mood," recorded on April 12 for inclusion on the otherwise solo
Thelonious Himself album. The remaining three cuts with
Ware,
Wilson, and
Coltrane were taken form the
At the Five Spot live recording.
Orrin Keepnews compiled this collection and wrote a wonderful and insightful essay about recording this music. It was all arranged chronologically, meaning there are no less than five takes in total of "Crepuscule with Nellie" taking up the vast majority of disc one. For those who have to have absolutely everything.