Thelonious Monk – Monk Alone: The Complete Solo Studio Recordings of Thelonious Monk 1962-1968

Monk is the champion AND the best.

I can happily listen to anything he ever did, and be happy. But I’m especially fond of this collection of solo recordings.

Monk solo is a delight. All that old stride influence in the left hand, and all that angular, modern, eccentrically chromatic and re-harmonized childlike weirdness in the right. Just awesome.

Favorite track here is hands down his version of “Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea.” It’s just so … Monk.