Monk's Dream marked the beginning of
Thelonious Monk's six-year association with Columbia, and though it broke little new ground with the appearance of only one new composition ("Bright Mississippi," based on the chord changes to "Sweet Georgia Brown"), he finally began to reach a wider audience with his first major-label contract. Accompanied by tenor saxophonist
Charlie Rouse, bassist
John Ore, and drummer
Frankie Dunlop, the album became
Monk's best-selling release of his entire career. The quartet is in top notch form during the four studio sessions taped in the fall of 1962 which make up the disc. Although the focus is frequently on
Rouse's enthusiastic solos,
Monk's solo tracks prove to be the most interesting selections. His jagged reworking of "Body and Soul" shows his mixes stride piano with an inventive, unpredictable right hand, while
Monk's often hesitant approach to "Just a Gigolo" proves to be quite humorous, whether or not it was his intention. This expanded 2002 reissue adds four alternate takes, three of which are previously unreleased, and it should be considered an essential purchase for anyone interested in his works. ~ Ken Dryden