Sold Date: August 26, 2024
Start Date: August 25, 2024
Final Price: $500.00 (USD)
Seller Feedback: 4344
Buyer Feedback: 0

Thelonious Monk (1917-1982) was one of the most influential pianists and composers of jazz in the 20th century. Together with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, he developed the school of jazz known as bebop. His 1st known recording was in 1944 when he was a member of Coleman Hawkins' quartet but name was not mentioned on the album. It wasn't until 1947 that he played as the leader of a sextet session for the Blue Note jazz label. The classics "Criss Cross" and "Evidence" are generally regarded as the first works characteristic of Monk's unique jazz style which embraced percussive playing, unusual repetitions and dissonant sounds. He signed with Prestige Records early on but then sold his contract to Riverside Records in 1955 after he had recorded "Bags Groove" with  Miles Davis (some consider this his finest piano solo ever). He was a fixture in many of the after hour jam sessions that took place in the New York jazz clubs. In 1957, the Thelonious Monk Quartet (featuring a young John Coltrane) began performing regularly at the "Five Spot" in New York. In 1962, he signed with the mainstream Columbia label and he performed in many overseas tours. He struggled with mental health issues for much of his life and he backed away from the limelight for the last decade of his life. He will always be known as an exceptional originator for his compositions and his performing talents.
The long playing album entitled "Two Hours with Thelonious Monk" is a limited edition 2 record set  of his quartet's recordings during European concerts in 1960. This record was released by Riverside Records in 1961 (#s RS9460/9461). Song titles are seen in photo 15. The cover shows wear and the carboard seams show scotch tape. The 2 stereo vinyl records appear in good to very good condition. The accompanying musicians for  these sessions were Charlie Rouse on tenor sax, John Orr on bass and Frankie Dunlop on drums. The album contains some of his most famous compositions. This record (if you can find an original copy) is quite collectable and sometimes expensive. What is unique about this item is that the record has been personally signed in silver marker by Thelonious Monk himself (photo 2). Signature is quite legible. Autograph collectors know that Thelonious Monk's signature is somewhat rare and very desirable. This signed album comes with a certificate of authenticity (photo 3). Selling off many of my signed records from a 30+ year hobby of collecting.