This album marks Thelonious Monks sole recording as a member of Art Blakeys celebrated Jazz Messengers. The pianist and drummer were very close friends who understood each other well on both a personal and musical level. In fact, Blakey was present on both Monks first and last studio sessions, spanning a period of 24 years from the 1947 quintet and trio recordings to the last sets taped in London in 1971, when Blakey and Monk were touring with the group called the “Giants of Jazz” (which also included Sonny Stitt, Dizzy Gillespie, Kai Winding and Al McKibbon). With the exception of Johnny Griffins “Purple Shades”, all of the compositions on this album are classic Thelonious Monk tunes. 1. Evidence 2. In Walked Bud 3. Blue Monk 4. In Walked Bud [First Version] 5. I Mean You 6. Rhythm-A-Ning 7. Purple Shades 8. Evidence [Solo Piano Version]
