Like finding a Rembrandt

Earlier this year, I raved about a new CD from an old tape, newly discovered, of Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker live at Town Hall in New York in 1945. Now comes "Thelonius Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall," released today thanks to folks at the Library of Congress, who were archiving old Voice of America tapes in February and found this one, and to Blue Note, which put out the disk with dispatch.

The first thing that struck me was the really good sound, I mean studio quality. The second thing that caught my attention was the fascinating, I want to say highly intellectual interplay between Monk and Coltrane. They sometimes seem to be channeling each other's musical thoughts, as on "Evidence," "Nutty" or "Sweet and Lovely," the latter an incredibly creative version of the standard. The playing from both on "Blue Monk" is riveting.

Fascinating to hear Coltrane blooming less than two months after recording "Blue Trane" and well on his way to "Giant Steps" a year and a half later. As for Monk, I don't known if it's the venue or what, but while he still sounds like Monk he plays snatches where he almost seems to be saying, "See, I could be Horowitz if I wanted." Coltrane is right with him on "Monk's Mood." Marvelous stuff.