All one needs to know for sure. Great music from two of the few true giants. Now, within each level of gianthood there is great, GrEaT, and then there’s GREAT. And, before anyone goes off the rails over my next comment, this is a purely subjective reaction.
FOR ME, this is one of the less satisfying records by either Monk or Coltrane. There is something about the combination of Monk and Trane that just doesn’t completely work for me. Hard to explain, but I think it comes down to the mix of two extremely strong musical personalities that are too different. Monk is quirky, angular and very economical with a very different kind of flow in his playing from Coltrane; who sometimes sounds as if he is holding back. Just me. How can it not be great? Great record with a great back story.
FOR ME, this is one of the less satisfying records by either Monk or Coltrane. There is something about the combination of Monk and Trane that just doesn’t completely work for me. Hard to explain, but I think it comes down to the mix of two extremely strong musical personalities that are too different. Monk is quirky, angular and very economical with a very different kind of flow in his playing from Coltrane; who sometimes sounds as if he is holding back. Just me. How can it not be great? Great record with a great back story.