Provocative, controlled, erratic, lyrical, grating and, above all else, original. These are just a few of the terms one can use to describe Thelonious Monk, both the man and his music. Recorded for the 1960 Roger Vadim movie Les Liaisons Dangereuses, this album features Monk performing with Charlie Rouse, Barney Wilen, Sam Jones and Art Taylor.

• USA Vinyl Release
• Mastered by Kevin Gray
• Pressed At Quality Record Pressings, QRP
• Includes 4-page insert 
• with photos and an essay by Robin D.G. Kelley

A landmark discovery! Never-before released Thelonious Monk 1959 studio recording.

Monk’s only film soundtrack, for Roger Vadim’s famed French film Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960.

Features Monk’s 1959 all-star working band of Charlie Rouse, Sam Jones & Art Taylor, plus special guest French Saxophonist Barney Wilen.

Recorded at Nola Penthouse Sound Studio, 111 W. 57th., New York, N.Y., July 27, 1959.

2017 celebrates the centennial of one of jazz’s greatest composers & pianists. First official release with the full permission and cooperation of the Thelonious Monk Estate.

"A studio set recorded in 1959, in New York City, when Monk was in his late tenure at Riverside Records, the sound here is something of a preview of his approach upon his move to Columbia Records, where the compositions took on a tighter (it's relative; this is, after all, Monk) form. The set features tenor saxophonists Charlie Rouse and Barney Wilen. Rouse went on to serve in Monk's bands until the end. Wilen was best known then as the sax man on Miles Davis soundtrack recording, Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud (Fontana, 1958). The rhythm section was rounded out by bassist Sam Jones and drummer Art Taylor.

"As on most of his Columbia work, the set list is contains tunes mostly from the familiar Monk songbook, with a brief gospel hymn "By And By (We'll Understand it By And By)." The somber "Pannonica" receives three treatments; "Well You Needn't" is more fluid and more introspective than any other Monk take of the tune; "Crepuscule With Nellie" is, as always, perfect universe that makes complete and beautiful sense.

"Thelonious Monk: Les Liaisons Dangereueses 1960 is Monk in fine form, leaning toward his Columbia Records sound with excellent compatriots." - All About Jazz, Dan McClenaghan

As Analog Planet's Michael Fremer writes, the movie wasn't well-received and it and Monk's music track all but disappeared until now. The session tapes were eventually discovered among the possessions of French promoter Marcel Romano, who died in 2007.

Romano had previously paired Miles Davis with Louis Malle for his film "Ascenseur pour l'echafaud." After Roger Vadim named him music director for his new film, Romano and the director approached Monk, who though he'd had a musically exciting year (his famous Town Hall concert, the Riverside album 5 by Monk by 5 and a notable appearance at The Newport Jazz Festival), had a rough year, that included losing his cabaret card, which prevented him from performing live in New York City.

Perhaps that explains why no new music was composed for the film, but there are new versions of familiar tunes like "Crepuscule with Nellie", "Rhythm-a-Ning" and other Monk classics. The reissue's producer Zev Feldman is quotes as saying "It's at the top of the heap for me... It's one of the most important projects I've worked on. Bar none."

"We knew that Monk had recorded the soundtrack for 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses,' but we never expected to find these tapes 55 years after the movie was released. It is such a blessing to be able to listen to this fantastic session, and make it available for all to hear, with the precious help of eminent jazz specialists such as Robin D.G. Kelley, Brian Priestley, Daniel Richard, Alain Tercinet and Zev Feldman. This project is also a great opportunity to pay a tribute to producer Marcel Romano who had done so much for jazz music in France during the 1950's," writes Fred Thomas. "It was a startling revelation to discover that this music existed, that it was not just another live recording but a very well recorded studio session of great historical significance."

"I was beyond honored and thrilled to participate in this collaboration with my colleagues Mr. Thomas and Mr. Le Xuan. The co-producers of this project are Francois Le Xuan/Saga, Frederic Thomas/Sam Records and Zev Feldman. Le Xuan is a French record producer and sound engineer based in Paris who has done many archival projects for Universal Music, Sony, EMI and his own Saga Jazz label. Thomas, also based in Paris, heads up Sam Records, where he has released archival titles by Lester Young, Chet Baker, Donald Byrd and others. Feldman, who is based in Los Angeles, is known for his acclaimed and best-selling archival productions of work by Bill Evans, Wes Montgomery, John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Charles Lloyd and other major artists for Resonance Records and other labels. He was named "Rising Star Producer" in the 2016 DownBeat International Critics Poll.

Musicians:

Charlie Rouse, tenor saxophone
Barney Wilen, tenor saxophone
Thelonious Monk, piano
Sam Jones, double bass
Art Taylor, drums

Track Listing:

Side A
1. Rhythm-a-Ning
2. Crepuscule With Nellie
3. Six In One
4. Well, You Needn't

Side B
1. Pannonica (solo)
2. Pannonica (solo)
3. Pannonica (quartet)
4. Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are
5. Light Blue
6. By And By (We'll Understand It Better By And By)

Click here to listen to samples on YouTube.com ♫