On "Monk's Music", which was recorded in June 1957 in New York for Riverside, the pianist/composer surrounded himself with an outstanding crew: trumpeter Ray Copeland, alto saxophonist Gigi Gryce, tenor saxophonists John Coltrane and Coleman Hawkins, bassist Wilbur Ware and drummer Art Blakey. "What makes this one of the most fascinating recordings of Monk's career is the complexity of the material combined with the caliber of musicians available to play it," says Phillips. "John Coltrane and Coleman Hawkins, two legends of the tenor saxophone, play Monk's music side by side. That alone makes this a very special recording. These are two artists with very different styles and two artists who have had a profound influence on legions of other saxophonists." "'Monk's Music' was the key to a one-two-three combination of albums, all recorded in 1957, that helped Thelonious Monk break through," says Ashley Kahn, author of the new liner notes for the reissue. "A solid, well-balanced recording that highlighted Monk's growing status as a preeminent composer on the modern jazz scene, with a septet made up of an unusual mix of soloists and a solid rhythm section. It was also the first recording to be released in recognition of Monk's increased popularity. "Monk's Music," heralded by Downbeat as one of the top five albums of 1958, "remains one of Monk's most popular recordings: coherent, organic and fully realized," says Kahn. "The album," wrote Pitchfork, "helped define the future of jazz and the spirit of Monk." His songs "Ruby, My Dear", a study in nostalgia, and by contrast the lively, self-assured "Well You Needn't" are highlights in the acoustic dream field of "Monk's Music". Craft Recordings announces the latest batch of 2024 reissues in its Original Jazz Classics series, a favorite of collectors and critics alike. The latest reissues include Clark Terry Quartet & Thelonious Monk's "In Orbit", Mal Waldron's "The Quest", Thelonious Monk Septet's "Monk's Music", Blue Mitchell's "Blue's Moods", and Cal Tjader's "Latin Kick".