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Underground
Underground was recorded in 1967, about 20 years into the career of this wholly distinctive and unorthodox pianist-composer. Whenever the understated saxophone talents of Charlie Rouse accompany Thelonious Monk, one is assured of an invigorating set of music--and this collection is no exception. Supported by Larry Gales on bass and the inimitable Ben Riley on drums, Monk and Rouse elaborate on immortal compositions like "Ugly Beauty." On "In Walked Bud," the quartet is joined by vocalist Jon Hendricks. With jagged themes and unusual variations of meter and key, Underground showcases an aging Monk's still-brilliant eccentricity on the piano. A good bit looser than much of Monk's earlier work, he and Rouse infuse this date with their tag-team humor and unrelenting musical enthusiasm. --Mitch Myers more
- Price Range:$6.99 to $8.99 | 3 stores
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- From: Amazon
- Posted: Jun-13-2008
Almost his best, but not quite...
I still maintain that Monk's best album is "Straight, No Chaser." That being said, the same personnel are on this album, and it is a darn good one. My favorites are "Boo-Boo's birthday," "Raise Four," "Easy Street," the self-titled "Thelonious," and "In walked Bud." That about covers the entire...
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- Posted: Apr-13-2008
Great times with jagged lines of the true genious...
Brilliant album, although by some opinions not essential in the magnificent Thelonious Monk's opus, contains strong trio and quartet performances by the group that includes the great Charlie Rouse, another voice of the leader's musical mind,and equally impressive and coherent bass and drums...
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- Posted: Mar-27-2008
Look At That Cover! How Could You Not Buy This?
"Underground" was released on Columbia Records in 1968 and stands as Thelonious' last great recording. In fact if I'm not mistaken this was one of his last recordings before his retirement. His last tour was in 1971, so this record has to be one of the last. Columbia also dropped Monk from the...
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- Posted: Dec-21-2007
LORD OF THE UNDERGROUND
ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE. a masterful session. amazing.only thing is, in my opinion, "In walked Bud," ruins the flow, or at least sends the would be listener into an unexpected turn. not a terrible song, but we could have easily done without Hendricks' singing. but im in the minority here, because...
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- Posted: Sep-01-2007
My favorite Monk album
One of my favorite records ever. Genre? Who needs that? This is a classic by any standard. Most of these compositions are actually new, which was rare for Monk at the time: the long, swinging "Green Chimneys" (bolstered with bass and drum solos); the tender but lighthearted "Boo Boo's Birthday";...
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- Posted: Oct-11-2006
Classic of classics in Jazz
Amazon lists this as # 24 in his catalog of albums. I think this is by far one of his best, at least a top 5, as for me this is my favorite of all my 20+ Monk albums. Green Chimneys, In Walked Bud and Boo Boo's birthday are among some of the best songs he has ever written. This era in Monks music...
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- Posted: Jan-23-2006
Viva La Monk!
Monk is in top form here. leading his band up and down a winding path full of prosperous improvisational detours and stopping at melodic landmarks all along the way. i love Underground because not only are the songs so well performed and such a great example of Monk's complicated-yet-catchy style...
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- Posted: Dec-21-2005
Underground Thelonious
The remastered sound of Underground's reissue is much cleaner and crisper. The songs were restored to the original recorded length and there are a few bonus tracks added. Oh yeah, the album cover is clearer and closer (which is very important).I agree with the reviewers that say this is not...
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- Posted: Oct-07-2005
Some great stuff, some so-so.
Thelonious Monk entered the studio in late 1967 and early 1968 for the last time with his long-standing quartet of Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), Larry Gales (bass) and Ben Riley (drums) to record a new album, an album that would be new in more ways then one-- no less than four new Monk compositions...
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- Posted: Oct-01-2005
One of the Best of the Best
I'm simply dumbstruck that as of Oct 2005, only two people have reviewed this album to date. Browsing through various Monk albums on Amazon, it seems most have relatively few reviews. I can't understand this.If I were stranded on a desert island and could bring a single album with me, I wouldn't...
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