Este disco sempre foi considerado como o reconhecimento de Monk à sub-cultura jovem emergente onde esta colecção de músicas foi buscar o título. Certamente esta capa vencedora de um Grammy Award que mostra Monk como um revolucionário francês da II Guerra Mundial com uma arma automática ao ombro deu mais que pensar além do swing e dos fantásticos sons que saíam das espiras do disco.

Underground tornou-se no seu penúltimo album de estúdio, bem como a última edição a incluir o quarteto dos anos 60: Charlie Rouse, Ben Riley e Larry Gales. Esta edição 180 gramas audiófila foi masterizada a partir das Master Tapes Analógicas Originais.

"Each musician functions as an extension of the other, creating solos that weave synchronically as if performed by the same pair of hands." - Lindsay Planer, AllMusic

• Edição Limitada
• Vinil 180gr prensado na Pallas da Alemanha
• Corte a partir das Master Tapes Analógicas Originais
• Masterizado por Bernie Grundman

"This release has long been considered Thelonious Monk's acknowledgement to the flourishing youth-oriented subculture from whence the collection takes its name. Certainly the Grammy-winning cover art -- which depicts Monk as a World War II French revolutionary toting an automatic weapon -- gave the establishment more than the brilliant swinging sounds in the grooves to consider. Underground became Monk's penultimate studio album, as well as the final release to feature the '60s quartet: Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), Ben Riley (drums), and Larry Gales (bass) behind Monk (piano). One of the motifs running throughout Monk's recording career is the revisitation of titles from his voluminous back catalog. The tradition continues with the autobiographical leadoff track, "Thelonious."

The instantly recognizable stride piano lines are delivered with the same urgency and precision that they possessed over two decades earlier when he first recorded the track for Blue Note. The presence of Charlie Rouse throughout the album is certainly worth noting. "Ugly Beauty" best captures the sacred space and musical rapport that he and Monk shared. Each musician functions as an extension of the other, creating solos that weave synchronically as if performed by the same pair of hands. Newer material, such as the playful "Green Chimneys" -- named after the school Monk's daughter attended -- as well as the unbalanced hypnotism of "Raise Four," asserts the timelessness and relevance of Monk's brand of bop. The disc ends as it begins with a new twist on an old favorite. Jon Hendricks -- who provides lyrics and vocals on "In Walked Bud" -- recalls the hustle and bustle of the real and spontaneous underground Harlem jam sessions of the late '40s. It is likewise an apt bookend to this chapter in the professional life of Thelonious Monk." - Lindsay Planer, All Music

Músicos:

Thelonious Monk, piano
Larry Gales, contrabaixo
Charlie Rouse, sax tenor
Ben Riley, bateria

Lista de Faixas:

1. Thelonious
2. Ugly Beauty
3. Raise Four
4. Boo Boo's Birthday
5. Easy Street
6. Green Chimneys
7. In Walked Bud

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