London Collection, Vol. 2

THE LONDON COLLECTION VOL. 2 is also available with THE LONDON COLLECTION VOL. 1 and THE LONDON COLLECTION VOL. 3 in the 3-CD box set THE COMPLETE LONDON COLLECTION (Black Lion 7601).
Personnel: Thelonious Monk (piano); Al McKibbon (bass); Art Blakey (drums).

Recorded at Chappell Studios, London, England on November 15, 1971. Includes liner notes by Brian Priestley.
Pianist-composer Thelonious Monk's final recording session as a leader (cut in London during a Giants of Jazz tour) resulted in enough material to fill up three CDs. The second volume features Monk with bassist Al McKibbon and drummer Art Blakey on eight trio renditions of Monk's tunes. Although all of the material had been recorded and performed by Monk many times before, these versions sound quite fresh. Highlights include "Evidence," the complex "Criss Cross," "Nutty" and "Hackensack." All of the CDs in this series are well worth picking up for Monk proves to be in prime form during this final effort. ~ Scott Yanow