Jazz Connection

Gatefold 180-gram vinyl with bonus tracks! Art Blakey was present on both Thelonious Monk's first and last studio sessions, spanning a period of 24 years from the 1947 quintet and trio recordings to the last sets taped in London in 1971, when Blakey and Monk were touring with the groupcalled the "Giants of Jazz" (which also included Sonny Stitt, Dizzy Gillespie, Kai Winding and Al McKibbon). Although this album marks Monk's sole recording as a member of Art Blakey's celebrated Jazz Messengers, the pianist and drummer were very close friends who understood each other well on both a personal and musical level. In fact, With the exception of Johnny Griffi n's "Purple Shades," all of the compositions on this album are classic Thelonious Monk tunes.