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.
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.