Big Band and Quartet in Concert explained

Big Band and Quartet in Concert
Type:live album
Artist:Thelonious Monk
Cover:Big Band and Quartet in Concert.jpg
Released:1964
Recorded:December 30, 1963
Venue:Lincoln Center, Philharmonic Hall, New York City
Genre:Jazz
Label:Columbia
Producer:Teo Macero
Prev Title:Miles & Monk at Newport
Prev Year:1963
Next Title:It's Monk's Time
Next Year:1965

Big Band and Quartet in Concert is the fifth album Thelonious Monk released for Columbia Records, featuring several Monk compositions. It was recorded live at Lincoln Center, Philharmonic Hall, New York, New York on December 30, 1963. Like the earlier The Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall album, the large ensemble pieces were arranged by Hall Overton. The large ensemble featured 10 musicians, including the four members of the Thelonious Monk Quartet and six additional brass and reed players.

Monk toured Europe in 1967 with a similar ensemble and played many of the same pieces featured on Big Band and Quartet in Concert. Recordings of a Paris concert with the 1967 group were later issued as Thelonious Monk Nonet Live in Paris 1967.

Big Band and Quartet in Concert was called by reviewer Scott Yanow "essential for all jazz collections".

Track Listing

The 1994 reissue on CD and LP restored the entire concert including selections and drum solos left off the original 1964 release.

Track Listing 1964 LP

  1. "I Mean You" – 12:42
  2. "Evidence" – 12:38
  3. "(When It's) Darkness On The Delta" (Al Neiburg, Jerry Livingston, Marty Symes) – 5:03
  4. "Oska T." – 9:20
  5. "Played Twice" – 6:24
  6. "Four In One" – 11:03
  7. "Epistrophy" – 2:00

Personnel

Thelonious Monk plays piano on all tracks.

Big Band Personnel

Hall Overton arranged all pieces played by the larger ensemble.

Quartet