Artist profile · 03/07/2026
Thelonious Monk
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- 20M
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About
Thelonious Monk, Jazz architect of bebop and groundbreaking piano improvisation.
Thelonious Monk began playing piano at age six and established himself in Harlem’s jazz scene by the early 1940s, contributing original works and a distinctive playing style characterized by dissonance and rhythmic complexity. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Monk recorded for Blue Note, Prestige, and Columbia, producing notable albums like "Brilliant Corners" (1957) and "Monk." (1965). Known for finger technique that evolved into intentional dissonances, his oeuvre includes collaborations with Sonny Rollins and Art Blakey. His live recordings capture performances from iconic venues such as The Five Spot in New York and international tours across Europe and Japan.
Discography
Thelonious Monk discography
Studio albums, live records, compilations and radio recordings. Each album groups all its editions.
Thelonious Monk Plays
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Monk
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl 3
- CD 3
- Cassette 1
Criss-Cross
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl 4
- CD 2
- Cassette 1
Big Band and Quartet in Concert
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl 4
- CD 2
- Cassette
Monk in France
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Something in Blue
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl 2
- CD 3
- Cassette 1
Monk in Tokyo
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl 3
- CD 3
- Cassette
The Man I Love
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Blue Sphere
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Epistrophy
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Live at the It Club
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl 4
- CD 3
- Cassette
Live at the Jazz Workshop
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl 1
- CD 4
- Cassette
Blues Five Spot
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl 1
- CD 1
- Cassette
More Genius of Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl 1
- CD 1
- Cassette
Live in Paris, 1967
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl 2
- CD 2
- Cassette
Monk: On Tour in Europe
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl 1
- CD 1
- Cassette 1
The London Collection
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD 3
- Cassette
Hackensack
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Live in Paris, 1964
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Live in Paris, 1964 – Alhambra, Volume 1
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl 1
- CD 1
- Cassette
Standards
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl 1
- CD 1
- Cassette 1
Live at the Village Gate
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl 1
- CD 1
- Cassette 1
Off Minor
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD 1
- Cassette
The First European Concert ’61
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Thelonious Monk & Joe Turner in Paris
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
In Copenhagen
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD 3
- Cassette
At Newport 1963 & 1965
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD 1
- Cassette
Olympia, Mar. 6th, 1965, Part 1
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD 1
- Cassette
Olympia, Mar. 6th, 1965, Part 2
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD 2
- Cassette
Thelonious Monk Live in Paris, Volume 2
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl 1
- CD 3
- Cassette
Monk in Paris: Live at the Olympia
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD 2
- Cassette
Live at the 1964 Monterey Jazz Festival
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD 1
- Cassette
Live in New York, Vol. 1
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
The Transformer
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD 1
- Cassette
Thelonious Monk Live in Paris, Volume 1
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl 1
- CD 3
- Cassette
The Complete Thelonious Monk at the It Club
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Newport ’59
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Live in Rotterdam 1967
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl 2
- CD 1
- Cassette
Mønk
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl 2
- CD 1
- Cassette
Palais des Beaux-Arts 1963
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl 2
- CD
- Cassette
Monk in Amsterdam
Thelonious Monk
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Data provided by Discogs
Listen
Signature songs
- 01'Round Midnight
- 02Ruby, My Dear
- 03
Straight, No ChaserIn Italy · 1963 - 04Blue Monk
- 05I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)
- 06EpistrophyIn Italy · 1963
- 07
Brilliant CornersBrilliant Corners · 1957 - 08Monk's Dream - Take 8
Essentials
3 Thelonious Monk albums you need to own
Our picks, approved by the editors.
#1 · 1957A critical 1957 album that showcases Monk’s complex arrangements and pioneering use of dissonance within hard bop.
5 tracksMonoRiverside RecordsClassic liner notes
#2 · 1965This 1965 Columbia promo album features a refined hard bop style with seven tracks highlighting Monk’s compositional depth.
7 tracksMono promoColumbia labelStereo versions exist
#3 · 1964Released in 1964, this album marks Monk’s continued exploration of hard bop with a mix of standards and originals.
6 tracksStereoColumbia label180g vinyl edition
Go further
Artists similar to Thelonious Monk
Artists who share part of Thelonious Monk's musical DNA.
B-side
B-side: the hidden stories of Thelonious Monk
Studio secrets, tour stories and B-sides worth the whole album.
Monk's 1965 'Monk.' album studio promo
The 1965 promo mono pressing of 'Monk.' on Columbia features seven tracks including 'Liza' and 'Pannonica', recorded in the US and sought by over 400 collectors.
Original 1965 Canadian pressing of 'Misterioso (Recorded On Tour)'
This original Canadian mono LP pressing on Columbia (catno CL 2416) from 1965 commands collectible interest with prices from €15 to €31.
Live at The Five Spot, 1958
Monk's live sets at The Five Spot in 1958 capture intimate performances vital to his legacy, available on vinyl reissues.
It's difficult to establish a linear lineage for Monk's style, as his personal evolution diverged from typical bebop conventions.— Music analysis
Riverside Records period and collaborations
Between the late 1940s and early 1960s, Monk recorded seminal albums for Riverside, collaborating with Sonny Rollins and Art Blakey while also producing solo works.
Thelonious Monk vinyl discography
See allNew BREMEN 1965/180 GR GATEFOLD SLEEVE
Thelonious Monk
BebopJazz/Blues
2026-06-12SUNNYSIDE RECORDSFrom$47.29
1 offerThelonious Alone In San Francisco
Thelonious Monk
BebopJazz/Blues
2026-04-03CONCORD RECORDSFrom$39.90
1 offerGenius Of Modern Music, Volume 2
Thelonious Monk
BebopJazz/Blues
2026-02-20UNIVERSAL MUSICFrom$27.90
1 offerSTRAIGHT NO CHASER / EDITION LIMITEE COULEUR CRISTAL TRANSPARENT
Thelonious Monk
BebopJazz/Blues
2025-11-21MONVILive in Paris 1966 - Lost ORTF Recordings
Thelonious Monk
BebopJazz/Blues
2024-11-29TRANSVERSALES DISQUESFrom$39.99
1 offerMisterioso
Thelonious Monk
Jazz contemporain / CoolJazz/Blues
2024-10-25BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENTFrom$60.66
1 offer
Thelonious Monk CDs
See allMisterioso - Monk in Tokyo I - Monk in Tokyo II - Monk - Monk's blues
Thelonious Monk
Variété internationaleVariétés
2011-10-10SONY MUSIC CATALOGUE
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FAQ
FAQ
The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.
Who was Thelonious Monk and what style did he play?
Thelonious Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer known for his bebop and hard bop styles, with a distinctive improvisational approach.
What are some essential Thelonious Monk vinyl records for collectors?
Key vinyl records include 'Brilliant Corners' (1957), 'Monk.' (1965), and 'It's Monk's Time' (1964), featuring mono and stereo pressings across US and European labels.
What makes the 1965 Columbia 'Monk.' promo LP special for collectors?
The 'Monk.' 1965 promo album on Columbia features mono pressing with limited availability, sought after for its original tracks and rarity.
Are there notable live recordings of Thelonious Monk on vinyl?
Yes, live vinyl releases such as 'Live at The Five Spot 1958' document key performances with compelling sound quality.
Where can I find original pressings of Thelonious Monk's albums in France?
Original pressings appear mostly on Columbia and Riverside labels; French sellers on vinyl platforms occasionally list key records like 'Monk.' and 'In France.'
How has Thelonious Monk's playing style influenced jazz piano?
Monk’s style features intentional dissonance and rhythmic surprises due to his finger technique, influencing generations of jazz pianists.
What factors affect the price of Monk vinyl records?
Factors include pressing location, original versus reissue status, condition, and rarity; mono US and Canadian Columbia pressings often fetch higher prices.
Are there Thelonious Monk vinyl records recorded in France?
Yes, 'Monk in France' captures studio sessions from the mid-1960s, available on various reissues and compilations on vinyl.
Transparency
Sources & method
This profile is compiled by the vinyles.com editors from public sources and our marketplace.
Our method
- Discography data from MusicBrainz (dates, country, active years).
- Tracklists, covers and genres from Discogs Masters.
- Values (low / median / high) and stock from the Discogs Marketplace.
- Audience and similar artists from Last.fm.
- Page updated automatically and reviewed by the editors.