Thelonious Monk - Brilliant Corners

"Here is my blanket recommendation of all of Analogue Productions' 45rpm jazz vinyl reissues. Record collectors always argue about the relative merits of reissues vs. originals. With the Analogue Productions series, it is much more clear-cut. The 33rpms sound damn close to the originals, only with quieter surfaces. The 45s, however, are in another league. Of the dozen I've sampled, every one reveals drop-dead transparency, detail, and a sense of bloom that is reminiscent of a studio master tape. My favorite is this, Monk's third Riverside album. Although the recording emphasizes Monk's originals in horn-ensemble settings, I'm hooked on his solo reading of the standard 'I Surrender Dear.' Even on affordable speakers, Monk's right there in the room with me." - Robert J. Reina, Stereophile, February 2005