Released in 1957, Thelonious Himself is a solo album by Thelonious Monk. The only exception to this is the final track "Monk's Mood," where he is joined by John Coltrane and Wilbur Ware.
A record proving he is one of the champs, this one has great playing and great tunes. It introduces Coltrane's "Sheets Of Sounds" approach (many notes over a complex chord progression) and his fury sound is on full display.
Miles '55 offers a deeper look at 1955, the year in which jazz icon Miles Davis formed his first great quintet (John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones) and established his influential sound.
Recorded in two sessions just a few months after working on A Love Supreme, this album makes for a perfect introduction to Coltrane's final period as a leader.
Recorded at the end of 1964, Trane's classic quartet of Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner and Jimmy Garrison stepped in and created one of the most thought-provoking albums of their relationship.
Johnny Griffin called upon his fellow master practitioners of the tenor saxophone John Coltrane & Hank Mobley for his second Blue Note album, A Blowing Session, in 1957.
Percussion Bitter Sweet, released in 1961 on Impulse! Records, is one of preeminent jazz drummer Max Roach's most politically charged and musically expansive recordings.