Jazz pianist Thelonious Monk’s first sessions as a bandleader were recorded between 1947 and 1952, and released on Blue Note records as a series of 78 RPM singles. These singles were then compiled in later years–with additional performances from the sessions–into long-playing album formats. As Monk’s reputation and fame grew, the sessions were recompiled again and again into more complete configurations. This article details various releases of these sessions.

Thelonious Monk, foreground, performing at Expo 67in Montreal. (Credit: Library and Archives Canada)

The Blue Note recordings were made over the course of six different sessions. “Versions” refers only to the number of eventually-released performances; other takes may have been recorded.

All compositions by Thelonious Monk unless otherwise noted.

Session 1: October 15, 1947

1. Humph
2. Evonce (Idrees Sulieman – Ike Quebec) [2 versions]
3. Suburban Eyes (Ike Quebec) [2 versions]
4. Thelonious

Session 2: October 24, 1947

5. Nice Work If You Can Get It (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin) [2 versions]
6. Ruby My Dear [2 versions]
7. Well You Needn’t [2 versions]
8. April In Paris (Vernon Duke – E. Y. Harburg) [2 versions]
9. Off Minor
10. Introspection

Session 3: November 21, 1947

11. In Walked Bud
12. Monk’s Mood
13. Who Knows? [2 versions]
14. ‘Round Midnight

Session 4: July 2, 1948

15. Evidence
16. Misterioso [2 versions]
17. Epistrophy (T. Monk – Kenny Clarke)
18. I Mean You
19. All The Things You Are (Jerome Kern – Oscar Hammerstein)
20. I Should Care (Cahn – Stordahl – Weston)[2 versions]

Session 5: July 23, 1951

21. Four in One [2 versions]
22. Criss Cross [2 versions]
23. Eronel (Monk – Sulieman – Hakim)
24. Straight, No Chaser
25. Ask Me Now [2 versions]
26. Willow Weep For Me (Ann Ronnell)

Session 6: May 30, 1952

27. Skippy [2 versions]
28. Hornin’ In [2 versions]
29. Sixteen [2 versions]
30. Carolina Moon (B. Davis – J. Burke)
31. Let’s Cool One
32. I’ll Follow You (R. Turk – F. Ahlert)

Personnel

• Thelonious Monk – piano
• Art Blakey – drums (sessions 1, 2, 3, 5)
• Shadow Wilson – drums (session 4)
• Max Roach – drums (session 6)
• Gene Ramey – bass (session 1, 2)
• Bob Paige – bass (session 3)
• John Simmons – bass (session 4)
• Al McKibbon – bass (session 5)
• Nelson Boyd – bass (session 6)
• Milt Jackson – vibraphone (4, 5)
• Idrees Sulieman – trumpet (session 1)
• George Taitt – trumpet (session 3)
• Kenny Dorham – trumpet (session 6)
• Danny Quebec West – alto saxophone (session 1)
• Sahib Shihab – alto saxophone (sessions 3, 5)
• Lou Donaldson – alto saxophone (session 6)
• Billy Smith – tenor saxophone (session 1)
• Lucky Thompson – tenor saxophone (session 6)
• Kenny “Pancho” Hagood – vocal (session 4, songs 19 & 20)

Singles

Blue Note 78 rpm series (12 inch 78 rpm)

BN 543 Well, You Needn’t (BN314-0)/ ‘Round About Midnight (BN321-1)