From 1963, following stints for Jackie McLean on One Step Beyond and Destination… Out!, this is maybe the great trombonist’s best record, with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, and Tony Williams — all involved with Miles around this time — and Cecil McBee. Four Moncur originals: bold, free, forward-looking music; but expansive and assured, never forced. ‘Some other stuff’; not full of itself, but a bit different. Try The Twins — dedicated to his two brothers — for a better sense of his musical good humour.

The guitarist’s guitarist in duos with master drummers Paul Motian and Andrew Cyrille, in a trio with Cyrille and Pete Rende (playing synthesizer), and solo. ‘A master of texture and unusual voicings, creating what one reviewer has called ‘detailed sonic landscapes of mystery and power’.’ All Monder originals, except Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.

The complete Columbia solo studio recordings, 1962-1968.

Monked standards, with Pettiford and Blakey.

Apt title — this is sparkling, angular music, with Roach and Rollins on top form throughout.

With Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), Larry Gales (bass), Ben Riley (drums). And Jon Hendricks with a great vocal version of In Walked Bud.

From 1961, featuring Charlie Rouse… though the stand-out is Just A Gigolo, by Monk solo.

Terrific 1963 date with Charlie Rouse, John Ore and Frankie Dunlop.
Originals and standards; nothing Monk hadn’t recorded before. Bubbling, chewy versions of Hackensack and Rhythm-A-Ning; a fabulous, seven-minute, solo Don’t Blame Me.
As Baroness Nica notes poshly on the sleeve, ‘this is the happiest of albums, leaving one with an extraordinary feeling of elation.’