Thelonious Monk Quartet, Johnny Griffin – Thelonius in Action

Analog Productions 2xLP 45rpm 180g. Limited edition. M-/VG+

For Thelonious in Action, Monk recorded live at the Five Spot Café in the Bowery neighborhood of Manhattan on August 7, 1958, at the same sessions that produced Misterioso. One of New York's most celebrated jazz rooms, the Five Spot is where Monk first emerged into the spotlight. With him on this date was tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin, drummer Roy Haynes, and bassist Ahmed Abdul-Malik. They created two highly memorable in-performance albums (of which this is the first) of classic Monk repertoire.

From the moment Monk's fingers touch the keys on the opening track, "Light Blue," the listener is transported into a world of musical virtuosity and improvisational brilliance. Monk leads the quartet through a series of electrifying performances that are as daring as they are captivating.