Art Blakey & Thelonious Monk - Art Blakey's Jazz Messangers With Thelonious Monk

This release contains the complete original album Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk (Atlantic sd-1278) plus an interesting live quartet version of Bya-Ya with Monk, Blakey and Griffin. Three extremely rare live versions of Monk tunes, recorded by the Jazz Messengers during a tv show just a month after the studio album was made, are also included here.

Although this album marks Thelonious 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. This amazing 1957 session with the Messengers made during the highest point of Monk's career. He and Blakey shared a common artistic feeling.

Contains the complete original album + 4 bonus tracks and a comprehensive 12-page booklet.