Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane
At Carnegie Hall (LP, Clear)
Unearthed in 2005 by staff at the Library of Congress, At Carnegie Hall is an incredible performance delivered on 29 November 1957 by jazz giants Monk and Coltrane, together with bassist Ahmed Abdul-Malik and drummer Shadow Wilson. Far superior to that captured at the Five Spot five months earlier, At Carnegie Hall shows Coltrane finding his own sax sphere as Monk explores the limits of experimental excursions on the keyboard; Monk is in his element on ‘Crepuscule With Nellie’ and Trane shows his adaptability of the complex ‘Epistrophy.’ This riveting set certainly qualifies as must-have material – grab yours now!
