Brilliant Corners

by Thelonious Monk

Overview

Although Brilliant Corners is Thelonious Monk's third disc for Riverside, it's the first on the label to weigh in with such heavy original material. Enthusiasts who become jaded to the idiosyncratic nature of Monk's playing or his practically arithmetical chord progressions should occasionally revisit Brilliant Corners. There is an inescapable freshness and vitality saturated into every measure of every song. The passage of time makes it all the more difficult to imagine any other musicians bearing the capacity to support Monk with such ironic precision. The assembled quartet for the lion's share of the sessions included Max Roach (percussion), Sonny Rollins (tenor sax), Oscar Pettiford (bass), and Ernie Henry (alto sax). Although a compromise, the selection of Miles Davis' bassist, Paul Chambers, and Clark Terry (trumpet) on "Bemsha Swing" reveals what might be considered an accident of ecstasy, as they provide a timeless balance between support and being able to further the cause musically. Likewise, Roach's timpani interjections supply an off-balanced sonic surrealism while progressing the rhythm in and out of the holes provided by Monk's jackrabbit leads. It's easy to write Monk's ferocity and Forrest Gump-esque ingenuity off as gimmick or quirkiness. What cannot be dismissed is Monk's ability to translate emotions into the language of music, as in the freedom and abandon he allows through Sonny Rollins' and Max Roach's mesmerizing solos in "Brilliant Corners." The childlike innocence evoked by Monk's incorporation of the celeste during the achingly beautiful ode "Pannonica" raises the emotional bar several degrees. Perhaps more pointed, however, is the impassioned "I Surrender, Dear" -- the only solo performance on the album. Brilliant Corners may well be considered the alpha and omega of post-World War II American jazz. No serious jazz collection should be without it. ~ Lindsay Planer

Product Details

Release Date:	12/10/2013
Label:	Original Jazz Classics / Concord
UPC:	0025218602617
Rank:	6392

Tracks

1. Brilliant Corners
2. Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are
3. Pannonica
4. I Surrender, Dear
5. Bemsha Swing

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Thelonious Monk   Primary Artist,Piano,Celeste,Soloist
Max Roach   Guest Artist,Drums,Timpani
Paul Chambers   Guest Artist,Bass
Oscar Pettiford   Guest Artist,Bass
Clark Terry   Guest Artist,Trumpet,Featured Artist
Ernie Henry   Guest Artist,Sax (Alto),Featured Artist
Sonny Rollins   Guest Artist,Saxophone,Sax (Tenor),Featured Artist

Technical Credits

Paul Bacon   Design,Cover Design
Kirk Felton   Digital Remastering
Jack Higgins   Engineer
Joe Tarantino   Mastering
Denzil Best   Composer
Thelonious Monk   Composer
Gordon Clifford   Composer
Orrin Keepnews   Producer,Liner Notes
Harry Barris   Composer
Kazue Sugimoto   Remastering Supervisor
Tamaki Beck   Mastering Engineer