Brilliant Corners

Mid. Just cannot get into Jazz.

Brilliant trumpets.

some nice jazz here, lots of Sonny Rollins on sax

In tegenstelling tot Bri vind ik jazz wel leuk. Dit is niet mijn favoriete soort, maar evengoed pretty decent. Schijnbaar waren de composities zo moeilijk dat de muzikanten het niet voor elkaar kregen en hebben ze meerdere takes aan elkaar geplakt which is pretty cool voor een plaat van bijna 70 jaar oud

mid

Not something I’d bump in my car, but was a nice sounding album.

The jazz was alright - didn’t hit me as much as others

Perfect background music while I was writing an essay on the evils of our state government. 4/5

jazzzzz

Great lineup.

Not a big jazz fan. But always okay with putting Monk on.

42 minutes of soloing gets old pretty quick

Some of this is objectively pretty neat. But I just can’t bring myself to care about it all that much.

not really my vibe still nice tho and cramps reallt enjoyed it

Really sweet :)

Mais um álbum de jazz e mais um daqueles que sabe sempre bem ouvir.

I can hear Monk's influence on Terry Adams of NRBQ, but still don't care much for jazz

This was good. Felt like really great background music as I went about my day.

227/1089 unfortunately i’m not a brass lover. i think i just generally don’t really “get” jazz. like it sounds nice a lot of the time and if it’s used well in films i like it but i think i just don’t really have a frame of reference to understand it or how it’s meant to make you feel? i can see how playing it would be fun and cathartic etc though 23/100

Starts off with an incredibly fun and colorful jazz composition that is bouncy, playful and puts an instant smile on my face. That energy is then replaced with something a lot more subtle with a lot of piano passages and a more melancholic sound. It's still really good and nice on the ears with sweet melodies and intricate playing. With the exception of I Surrender Dear which falls a bit on the boring side this is a very admirable jazz album.

Although nothing particularly stands out, this is still a good jazz album. He has some unconventional form and structure, which to my limited jazz knowledge, is one of the things he was known for. This early release shows the importance and influence of that.

Als ik dit album af had geluisterd ging de autoplay aan met andere jazz nummers zonder dat ik het door had. Het had niet genoeg eigenheid om het een hoog jazz album te zijn. Prima geen bloedende oren, maar niet bijzonder. Veel jazz is beter en leuker.

Heb de plaat denk ik nu stuk of zeven keer geluisterd en wordt steeds beter. Het is even inkomen maar het pakt uiteindelijk toch helemaal. Zijn niet standaard structuren waar je soms na een moeilijk stuk op weer iets bekends komt, in het begin voelt het als een lange ingewikkelde brij. Na lang luisteren begin je toch weer wat aanknopingspunten te vinden. Erg technische plaat. Met wel erg goed geluid voor 1957. Mijn favoriete drummer Max Roach is ook te leip. Drumsolo op 5 min op brilliant corners paar keer opnieuw geluisterd. Leuke ontdekking heeft mij erg geprikkeld en heb nog geen zin om volgende album te luisteren. Ga wat veder in Thelonious Monk duiken

Ik vond het leuk om naar te luisteren, maar het sprong er niet echt uit. Het werkte voor mij vooral als achtergrondmuziek en pakte me minder. In mijn autoplay volgde hier Miles Davis op, wat voelde als een warm bad dat contrast maakte duidelijk waar mijn voorkeur ligt. Ik snap dat jazz mag schuren en experimenteren, en dat hoor je hier ook terug. Hij zoekt bewust de randen op van vorm en timing. Ik denk dat ik nog niet genoeg jazz-ervaring heb om alles wat dit album te bieden heeft volledig te waarderen, maar ik hoor wel dat het inhoudelijk sterk is.

nice

monk, monk, monk... all that jazz

nice jazz fav song: Bemsha Swing

Not a big fan of this album, but glad to have tried it.

omg this type of music just reminds me of the 60 sooo bad sooo cool i wish i could have lived in that time!!

Brilliant Corners was pretty great, it definitely had a big band feel from time to time. I don't know enough about jazz to write any more, but I enjoyed it. The first track, "Brilliant Corners" was very nice. Favorite Song: "Brilliant Corners"

Man do i love Jazz. This album is incredible and i was scared cause the song lengths but boy does it work. The album starts out slow and builds getting more improvisational and slightly more chaotic. The instrumentation is incredible and sounds beautiful and there’s sections where you want to just enjoy the music and then also sections where you want to just dance a bit

There are these atonal choices that I enjoy in all of the songs. I do remember being into a lot of jazz as a younger lad, but my tastes shifted more away from it as I got older. Still a great time.

It’s ok. It’s jazz.

It was good, but I wish I had more musical knowledge to appreciate why. The opening track has some fun shifting tempos, and Paul Chambers' bass playing always stands out. I think I need more exposure and understanding of jazz to really understand this album.

melodic & chaotic, would definitely revisit [first listen]

i wish i could love jazz

Definitely a good listen for times I'm doing something else, whether that's reading, writing, or chilling. Retirement doesn't depend on weekends. I am not particularly versed in jazz (or whatever this specific genre may be called) but I'd say this was worth the time. 4 appreciative stars.

mid jazz

Not exactly the type of jazz I vibe with. I'm sure it's good. Just not for me

I hesitate to weigh in on any jazz, knowing too little of the complexities, but I do know what I like, and I like this. Inventive, exploratory, unexpectatious, cool as cool can be.

From the first few chords I just felt enraged. If this had been physical media, I would’ve hurled it against the wall. To paraphrase Pirandello, seven musicians in search of a tune.

I did enjoy this, though I was never lifted to reverie or able to get beyond trying to parse what the players were doing or intellectualizing the changes in time signatures. Its likely better than a 3, I'm just slow on the uptake when it comes to jazz.

I love Monk. He was my gateway drug to jazz. But everyone can't play with him, and that's true here. It's kind of crazy how much I disliked Sonny Rollins and Max Roach on here. Normally, they're fantastic, but it's like they don't understand the assignment. I get it. I wouldn't know how to play with Monk, either. I hope people aren't turned off of Monk based on this album. Check out a compilation, or check out the live album he did with Coltrane. He would often re-work his compositions, and you can find better versions of the first and last tracks on here. The solo track was gold, though.

I didn’t hate it, but it’s not something I would have chosen for myself.

Excellent brass and sax but not one gor a second listen

love jazz

No es mi estilo pero bienn

Has it on in the background, sounded good

This is around the time jazz gets interesting to me. Always happy to hear a record I haven't before!

Very accessible jazz, I liked it, won’t be a regular but will eventually return

Just high quality jazz

Just not my style of music tbh

I don’t dislike jazz, I sometimes find it to be just background music. This was no different. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Would I play it again? Probably not

Funky

7/10 Jazz piano is one of those things that I would absolutely love to be able to play. Having the mental command of keys and scales enough to just jam away creating soulful, groovy and smooth music like you’ve just turned on a tap of creativity is something really wonderful to me, and to add in the chops to dance around the keyboard and present whatever your brain brings to your fingers is another level on top of that. Monk is obviously an exceptional jazz pianist and composer, and was certainly not afraid to try and push the envelope, something that the title track of this album is a testament to. This record shifts in and out of moments of smooth beauty, swinging groove and rhythmic and structural complexity to present an evolving, pulsing record that, while occasionally challenging, spends enough time returning to it’s more focused moments to keep the listener engaged. For a 70 year old record, this sounds absolutely fantastic and on I Surrender, Dear, you can even hear Monk humming and vocalising the beat here and there, which is a delight to pick up on. All of the players are, as you would expect, masters of their craft, and some of my favourite moments were when Monk would hook on to one of the other players and they would pass motifs and developments back and forth between one another. That kind of playfulness is what can really elevate a jazz record, at least for me. With the above being said, there were times when this slowed down a little too much, and wandered a little bit too far off piste. I feel like if I were to get to know this record a little better, my opinion of it may increase, but as it is, there were a few too many moments when the hook got a little too lost, or we ended up with a bass or drum solo that lacked the rest of the band to give it the anchor it needed. But aside from that, this was an enjoyable spin, and I’m keen to spend some more time with Monk. Brilliant Corners - Well it’s a discordant start, but then once it gets moving, it’s a really interesting shifting rhythmic study. The tempo and emphasis shift around all, sometimes settling before flipping about again. Apparently this was a notoriously difficult song to play and the band didn’t manage to play it through correctly a single time during the session, so they had to stitch this together from incomplete takes. There are some really excellent moments in this, but it’s a challenging listen in places too. I quite like that juxtaposition though, with the easier stuff easing you in to the more adventurous bits. Ba-lue Bolivar Ba-lues-are - This is smoother and more easy on the ear. There’s a swinging, soulful groove to it and the soloing is, as you would expect, fantastic, I particularly enjoyed Monk’s Piano solo, but they all do a bang up job, and there are some exceptional little call and response runs with Monk and Sonny Rollins in the second sax solo. In fact, this is one of those songs where you really need to sort of sink into the groove of it and just let the playing wash over you. There are moments of spectacular beauty in there, but it’s all achieved by playing around together and latching onto those little moments, giving them their fleeting prominence and then driving forward. Bass solos like this are always trickier when the rest of the band dips out, apart from the drummer, and then it becomes more challenging again when we’re just on with the drums alone. It just lacks the harmonic interest to underpin the centre of the track, but despite that, it’s still a really enjoyable track. Pannonica - We continue with more smooth, sultry stuff that lazes along. They’re just leaning back from the groove, which is just about dragging them along for the first 2-3 minutes until they subtly catch up and go with a slightly upped tempo into the sax solo, which is a super sexy delivery. Monk chooses some really gorgeous chord movements in here. I’m a little less keen on the thinner tone of the celesta, particularly when more discordant intervals are used, because the tone of the instrument can create a more clashing tone with the dissonance, but it’s a fairly minor gripe. This is a really lovely, smooth and romantic jazz number. I Surrender, Dear - The playing here is so great. He pushes and pulls the tempo around, meandering up and down different alleys, but popping back to the central theme frequently enough for it to feel like home. There are some stunning little rhythmic changeups and runs in this. Yes, he goes a tiny bit off piste now and again, but this is jazz. Where’s the fun in playing exactly what’s expected all the time? Part of the joy is roaming around into those little moments that feel a little off, but either finding your way back or sticking with them unitl they sound right. Bemsha Swing - And the band return with a level of brashness and bombast that acts as stark contrast from the last track. The timpani adds to that bombast and creates an interesting tonal switch up against the rest of the record. This is a great song to listen to in order to hear how jazz musicians can take a main refrain, which in this instance is simple and easy to remember, and drift around, yet present that main hook in different forms and fleeting moments through the rest of the track. The playing is excellent and it’s also a great deal of fun.

more like Brilliant Album

Very good, nice smooth jazz. Relaxing to listen to and added a few to my chill playlist but probably not planning to listen to the album all that much.

Finally something other than white guy rock!!! And it’s incredible too!! I think I’m just doomed to give way too many jazz records really high scores, but… like. Just listen to that piano solo on the title track - my jaw dropped. Or the glockenspiel on track 3, which I initially wasn’t too crazy about, really grew on me by the time the song ended, because of how dynamic the song itself became. I love the piano solo of I Surrender, Dear, just because of how much it highlights the absolute beauty of the piano as an instrument, with those incredible tone clusters, and dynamic melodies… it’s one of my favorite songs on the album. And that absolute triumphant, bombastic closer! Perfection!!! All in all, this is some of the most incredible, innovative hard bop that I’ve heard ever. The use of the different instruments is masterful, and the album is both a masterpiece and a masterclass in jazz. What an absolute delight of an album. So so sooo good. 9.8/10

I loved this so much more than I thought I would. I think my favorite thing about this album is that I can't nail down what exactly is working for me. But something is definitely working for me. Without planning it, I spent the rest of my day and into the evening listening to jazz. I revisited this album a handful of times over those hours. It just keeps giving.

дуже smooth

Very little Jazz history/experience. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed looking at 5 songs across 42 minutes. Anyway, here we go. 1st listen. Yeah its a lot. Songs felt overly long, every instrument gets a solo, and its all a bit same samey. Still there must be something I'm missing, It's got so many 5 out of 5s. So, did some research about Monk. Interesting cat, Turns out this is style of jazz is be bob. 2nd listen, yeah I'm appreciating it more. The solos feel less rambley and pointless. 3rd listen. Ok, this is pretty good. I would say I enjoy this. I haven't heard my other Monk albums yet, and as mentioned, my history of jazz is limited. I don't know if I'd actively listen to this gain, but would be great background music. I'm glad I listened to it. I believe there's 2 more Monk albums in the list, so I'm looking forward to listening to them later.

My rating 3.6. My second jazz album and nearly as good as the first ( Kind of Blue).

Every jazz album on this list so far I have loved and this is no exception. It seems more complex than some of the previous albums and to me not as smooth. That doesn't take away my enjoyment from the songs though. I just wish the album would have been a bit longer or a few more songs to get the variance you get when the artist starts a new track.

One of my favorite *sounding* jazz records of all-time; Max Roach's drums on the title track sound absolutely titanic, and despite the occasional cacophonic blend of horns and piano (be that harmonic or otherwise), there's still somehow so much room to breathe. Incredible arrangements and individual performances. Especially considering the time period, Monk was so punk rock in his approach. I love it. 5/5

Solid jazz album just not really my cup of tea.

Jazz

A nice Jazz album.

I have really leaned into jazz lately and this hits just right.

I don’t feel qualified to judge a jazz album. This was enjoyable, but not something I would typically put on. 6/10 Pretty Good

I liked it a bit more than the last one too much jazz

Fint jazz album, jeg ved desværre ikke nok om jazz til at give en bedre musikanalyse. Føler albummet gør sig glimrende til en aften fuld af planlægning og mystik!!

not in the mood for jazz today kinda crazy for 50s

I’m liking jazz

Sounds a bit like band practice

Not for me

This album annoyed me because it's so good. Not annoyed with the album itself, but with the fact that this and several other jazz albums from the 50s sound like they were recorded just the other day. I love Elvis, Chuck, Little Richard, but the albums from the beginning of the Rock and Roll era (which are much more famous and popular) had recordings that have aged very poorly, in terms of production. But Brilliant Corners, along with other spectacular jazz albums from that time, ages like a fine wine...

Melkein jätin kuuntelematta, mutta onneksi annoin mahdollisuuden, kuuntelin heti toisen kerran perään. Yksinkertaisen kuuloisia biisejä, kuitenkin kehittyvät hauskasti eteenpäin. Soitossa hyvää meininkiä, ei kuitenkaan liian täyteen tuutattua ja ilmavuus säilyy. Hyvä levy, vaikkeivät melodiat päähän jääkään soimaan.

#274/1001. Cool jazz. Hip, not hop. Most jazz here beats the rock albums here. 1001 jazz albums to ear before you die would be a far more interesting project.

O Jezu, zmęczyłem się tym albumem. Doceniam jazz w stylu Miles Davis, ale to to jest czysta nuda.

I can’t say I usually listen to jazz but I always start from a position of wanting to like it. Today’s listen started with good intentions but as the album drew on, it faded to background music, but it was a pleasant enough listen. Where I was more engaged early on, I probably appreciated it more, particularly the drum solo on the opening track, Bright Corners. A more focused listen would no doubt unlock more enjoyment here but it’s finding the right moment - maybe late night with a whiskey?

This is just restaurant that tries to appear fancy music. The type of music you notice on enter, and then, 30 minutes into your meal, go, “Wait, there was music playing the whole time?” I use “background music” to describe certain types of relaxed, inoffensive music mostly sardonically, but this album fits the most literal definition of “background music” you can possibly come up with. It’s music you need to actively try to pay attention to to notice. The thing is, jazz musicians have the toolset and capabilities to make some of the most exciting music ever, but a lot of them choose to make something like this instead. I guess there’s no point in being mad. Different people like different things, and the fact that most of this genre is not made for me is fine. But I’m still a little disappointed. This album is not, like, extremely boring or annoying to listen to. It’s just such a nothing burger. Nothing happens in it, nothing to talk about. Just a couple dudes jamming out whatever, and the result is… passable. 5/10

It’s was a good jazz album. Not exactly brilliant but pretty good

2/16/26. Enjoyable jazz with no vocals. 7/10

Monk is always awesome.

I appreciate Thelonious Monk and I appreciate this style of music. But I guess I prefer more modern jazz fusion than its roots. With this album in particular, I found myself tuning out, doing other things while it played on in the background. And since I was listening on YTMusic, it went on to something related after it finished, and I could not tell the difference whether it was the same album or not.

This is ok. I like Jazz but this was hard to know when the song started and when it finished. I envy how good technically it is, but I think I didn't get the hype. Itbis good as background music for a fun breakfast, though.

Gets into a good groove and hits it very well. Solid jazz album.

First full jazz album from this era, and I really get the appeal. The unstructured and improvised nature of the music overall is so fun and easy to listen to especially as good studying music. Such a vibe and some songs had an incredibly funky and delicious melody with some wonderful instrumentation. Just the top of its craft and the beginning of what jazz would grow to.

Not big into jazz, I don’t think I have the ear for truly understanding why this is particularly great or unique jazz. However I did very much enjoy listening to it.

This feels really impressive for 1957. Like, this is some crazy stuff! I don't know much about jazz, but I generally enjoy it when I hear it - especially the kind like this, which showcases virtuosity and creativity. Not an everyday listen for me, but it gave me some really nice vibes over the weekend.

Brilliant Corners is like a smoky jazz club, a trance-inducing, curious experience. Monk's offbeat, playful piano is pure magic 50s hard bop with a futuristic edge. The title track is amazing, complex but catchy, with Rollins and Roach making it super cool. It's a trip at first, but perfect if you let it wash over you. It demands attention as even with rough edges, the songs are brilliant. "Bemsha Swing" sealed the deal, a tough, amazing record that makes me want more jazz.

I love how this all starts off, with some great dissonance and interesting interweaving rhythms. There are occasional smoother jazz moments, but soon enough it gets weird and complicated again, coming apart with the saxes and other good stuff before coming back to the melody. I'm glad there are no vocals on this record, which would distract from the subtle, interesting stuff happening with all the instruments. This isn't background music, it rewards close listening, so I put on the headphones and dialed in. I've always known of Thelonious Monk and how important his work was, but I think I never paid close enough attention to it before. I was sorry when this record ended. 5 stars

A welcome bit of variety. Not one I knew, which made it more enjoyable. The interplay between the performers was excellent, the rhythm section were fantastic and I enjoyed the rhythmic shifts.

Took a while for me to get into this but a second listen helped. Didn’t particularly rate the sax in it but the drums and other accompanying rhythm section were great.

The classic early days of jazz. Can’t beat it.

Bit too plinky plonky. Very dated.

Some good moments throughout the record, but felt too long overall, and at time somewhat disconnected

Classy. Inventive. Full of character. Timeless.

THELONIOUS MONK MY BEST FRIEND THELONIOUS MONK I have 'genius of modern music' on record and I literally listen to it all the time. guy does things to a piano........ my favorite song on here is the titular Brilliant Corners but I also love specifically the back half of Bemsha Swing, too. Listened to it on a bus and accidentally zoned out during Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are and when I zoned back in we were maybe about halfway through Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are. Love that. Overall: I love Mr. Monk! Makes me wish I kept jazz piano up. Oh, well. There's always time............. Late addendum: learned today you can see other people's reviews on here. Which is very silly--this is my personal diary lol. Apparently people who don't like freeform jazz don't like freeform jazz! Who would have thought!

I still have no taste, and I still apologize

This is as high as I would ever rate a jazz album. I had so much fun listening to it but don’t know enough about jazz to elaborate.

Incredibly boring.

I know there's talent here, and I understand that most of the progressive metal and technical metal I enjoy is based on a foundation of jazz. That being said, my enjoyment of the genre ends with the Local on the 8s circa 1993 Weather Channel.

trevligt

We've got to put some respect on his name for Brilliant Corners as well as many other recordings in his career, and yet I've never been drawn to Thelonious Monk's music like other giants of jazz. I'm definitely not giving the record the focus it deserves when I put it on and set the volume to background music levels. There certainly are moments, corners perhaps?, where I'm drawn in and captivated but there are also long stretches where I'm less attentive. It's almost as if Brilliant Corners is a test of how we do or don't listen to music these days — or it's a test of what the artist has given our ears to begin with.

I loved it

Fantastic.

Thelonous is a fairly recent discovery for me, and I just absolutely love that controlled chaos he brings. This feels like a live album it’s so frenetic and spontaneous.

This is a super solid jazz album. It starts off a little janky (kind of in a good way though?), but pulls together quickly in the first track and remains good all of the way through. Hard bop can sometimes seem overly self-indulgent, but I don't quite get that feeling from this record. 3.75/5

A lot of jazz albums don't click with me. This isn't one of them. I liked this quite a bit. 3.75/5

I think this is the jazz album in the list that we have listened to yet. The song paces kept moving and the songs were not overly long.

Surprisingly good jazz album that makes you enjoy the jazz genre

As far as jazz goes, I didn't enjoy this one as much as others we've had. I dunno it just really felt like it dragged on in parts. Overall I don't think I know enough about jazz to really have an educated opinion about this.

normally I enjoy jazz but this one never grabbed my attention. was fine as background.

Maybe not the best Monk album, but a really great album. The title track is crazy, and the rest of the album is vintage Monk. 3.5/5, and rounding it up mostly for the 1st track.

I have no taste, I apologize

immediately gripping // playful, angular, and full of personality // melodies feel off-kilter but inevitable, like ur limping towards the sunset on a hot summer night // classic without feeling stiff // sense of humor aaaallll over the record, especially in the phrasing and timing, delicious // feels foundational but also weird in a way that still feels fun and new // i now understand why so many musicians orbit monk // truly everybody wants to be A CAT

If you like a bit of jazz noodling for those nights in the conservatory sat byt the fire in your leather armchair, whiskey in hand and cigar in the other, looking out over a still moonlit lake, this album is for you. If you can't afford that, a nice quiet coffee-come -second hand bookshop will do. At last an album worthy of a list like this. From the mid 50s but this is still fresh today, sometimes a tight scramble, often a playful light hearted tinkling and at others a bold chorus big band sound. Each time I listen, I get something different. A great album but you have to be in that kinda mood to let it wash over you and take you places.

3.5 stars I’m not sure where I go from liking jazz to enjoying it to thinking it’s great. This was good. I like it and will return to it. But I couldn’t tell you why I’d rate this I just went with my gut.

Always going to enjoy a good jazz album. This one has more of a piano focus for the mid tracks, but overall really complex and layered. A good listen, not one I'd go to often but more one I can appreciate for how varied it is.

It was ok

Absolute classic. No notes, not much I can say. Has to be in any jazz collection/long run playlist.

There was a band called Johnny Hates Jazz. I'm with Johnny!

This absolutely slaps. Grooves, moves, plays with sound that twines around each other. It can wash over you, or it can grab you in an incredibly interesting listen. Made with a real sense of joy, you feel like you are cool in a dingily lit club listening to this in the best way possible

I think I love jazz...

Very nice jazz.

Was gonna give this a 2 because I did like a few moments in the first 2 songs, but then the last 2 bumped it up to a 3

Classic jazz album. Very interesting sound, although not particularly easy to listen to.

Heard Before? Yes, indeed. Notes: - nice to see a few token jazz albums on this list, although I'm guessing it will all be safe, predictable choices like this. - that said, it really is a phenomenal album. five highly varied, complex, swinging and emotive compositions. - the title track sounds labored, and I read that the recording had to be stitched together. makes sense, it's brutally tricky. - more celesta everywhere! it's a gimmick, but a glorious one. - the bass is unremarkable, the alto sax sometimes seems lost and Max Roach plays it safe except on the solos, but who cares? this is Monk's set and he nails it. - even the comping is thrilling - I found myself ignoring a great Sonny Rollins solo just to pay attention. - this version of "I surrender dear" is my favorite, and one of my top solo piano jazz ballads. Verdict: Easy to love. Compositionally innovative, while staying grounded in accessible solos. Put in on in the background at your peril. Listen Again? There's a lot of Monk to go through and a whole universe of jazz beyond. It's a rare album that I revisit and I'm not sure this is one, as good as it is.

Yeah this is OK. I'm not sure about the duff notes being deliberate and they're certainly not good to listen to. All other playing is pretty superb. I like the song that sounds like Cruella De Ville

Layered and solid vibes.

Jazz an automatic 5

Brilliant is pretty apt for this album. Everything down to the title and the cover is almost inquisitive and curious. I feel like a noir detective listening to this. It’s off kilter and strange but still well put together in that classic 50s jazz style way before the genre imploded into beautiful chaos in the 60s and 70s. Love it. I’m glad someone with as badass a name as thelonious became a renowned musician.

Liked it more than some of the jazz I’ve heard, but I’m still struggling to appreciate the genre as a whole.

Nothing that I will remember. Dullest jazz I've heard in ages.

Yep that sure.is jazz piano.

I liked the horns!

Enjoyed this one!

This is a legendary set. It holds a place in music history that cannot be touched. It's close to if not a perfect album.

A jazz standard, I am not a big jazz fan, but i could have this in the background without issue. pleasant.

This was a great album. Energizing but not noisy, also great work background music. Four stars

Listening session: february 2nd, while commuting to internship Listened to before: no Thoughts: I’m giving this 3 stars because I can appreciate the musicality, but I would’nt put this on myself Favourite track: I Surrender, Dear

This was pretty accessible to a non-jazz fan.

I normally don't like jazz, but to deny Thelonious would be like denying Satriani or Yo-Yo Ma or Aphex Twin. This is excellent thinking music. His chords feel like they were carved out with a pocketknife. It's not groovy, but it sits there, built on angles and odd rhythms, giving you something to think with, and occasionally jumping up and biting you, giving you friction to think against. My Rating: 4/5

Monk gives you three pretty, uncomplicated notes before requiring you to sit up straighter and pay attention. This is the kind of music which today is often treated as background music, or easy listening. Maybe there’s some good in that, a sign that these aesthetic choices are becoming widely embraced and influencing contemporary definitions of beauty. And there’s certainly a lot of sweetness on this album. But there’s also a lot of “hard listening.” Chords that teeter on the edge of dissonance and sometimes go unresolved. Melodies that don’t stay still but slide in and out of focus. The beautiful photograph on the cover aptly reflects the experience of trying to keep up with all ten of Monk’s hands. This is an album with a lot to offer the repeat listener.

If this was just Monk I don't think the rating would be as high. Sonny Rollings, Clark Terry, Ernie Henry and ESPECIALLY Max Roach make this album. Why wasn't Roach highlighted on the cover like the other musicians? Anyway, the only sleeper track was the solo Monk piece "I Surrender Dear". His time doesn't jive with me on this one. Best track by far was "Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are" because I'm a sucker for a good bass solo and even a bigger sucker for some Max Roach.

I just don't like jazz

When I think of jazz, this is what I think of. His compositional and directorial abilities to arrange ensembles of talented jazz artists was something that only comes along once every few generations.

Brilliant for sure, some really good stuff here made almost SEVENTY years ago. Wow

никогда не был фанатом джаза но это очень даже зашло отмечу очень крутые соло на басу в плейлист не добавлю но рад что познакомился с таким жанром

Monk’s touch is a bit heavy for my taste, but the overall sound was great. The title track and Bemsha Swing were my favorites, with both songs having great Sonny Rollins solos. The solo piano track was also very nice and tasteful:)

The man is a genius. But I’m not.

War flashbacks to my high school boyfriend…

I don’t listen to jazz often and haven’t listened to T Monk. This album was fantastic.

Songs went on too long and it all started to sound the same after a while, but still really charming. Makes me wanna go to a jazz club!

The first thing I listened to after dying from the flu all weekend and it was lovely ✨

Enjoyed the mellower notes of the album, the first song was too long because I didn't like it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This album made my tummy ache go away :)

Keine lyrics

Great, so unique drums

So much dissonance. Such looong songs. I recognize the level of talent of the musicians. I liked the instrumental solos. I do like jazz and 1950s jazz, but this album was tough for me to listen to straight through from start to finish.

I did not love this album. I get that is probably epic for fans of this genre. I just like my songs to be sung.

looooved it

I really love jazz, and this is great jazz

A great album to study to.

I feel Whiplash has forever ruined any sort of Jazz for me. ARE YOU RUSHING OR DRAGGING (throws chair)

I know Thelonious Monk is a pianist but maybe a whole album of jazz piano is not my thing. I just wasn't drawn in for any extended time.

Its not the genre that i usually listen to but i'm currently on my exam session so I listenned to it while studying and it helped me to focus so much, it was really pleasant

Thought it was absolute dogshit.

Short but very enjoyable

If I liked jazz even a little I likely would have enjoyed this. I saw Herbie Hancock at a music fest a few years ago and this album was leaps and bounds ahead of that. Something about jazz just makes me uneasy and ramps up my anxious feelings. Not for me.

No. 87 this list has allowed me to listen to some excellent jazz albums, i’ve come to really appreciate the genre. i still feel like i dont know enough to critically rate it, i just sit back and enjoy it.

Amazing

4 stars mainly because the drumming is fire. Reminds me of John Bonham. I could listen to an isolated drum track of this album. Not that the rest isn't good, but this style of jazz can be a little challenging to fully get into.

Sounds like smoking a cigarette in the rain

Differed listening experience for me, I could listen to this in a bar not my go to, although obviously skilled musicians

Every track is full of ideas and talent - is a little challenging to be a perfect record

80% de corrélation temporelle

Ça me donne des vibes de musique de Noël

It’s a good jazz album, but I’m not really into jazz, especially jazz without any lyrics.

Not any words, long songs, and some piano chords weren’t actually chords, but it was pretty good!

A really nice Jazz album. Would be nice background music for studying!

Too much instrumental for me

We often hear about the importance of blues in the development of rick and other modern genres, but too often ignore innovative jazz artists like Monk. The experiments with alternative tunings, time signatures and deconstructed rhythms on the album are really interesting. They are even more impressive when you realize that Monk composed this stuff in the 50s. Cool stuff!

jazzy stuff just not my kinda music

I don't enjoy such music because leading sax sounds grating on my ears. I just don't like its sound. It's a nice improvisation though and I liked the piano piece

Good listen on my way to the football last night, Town beating Bristol City 2-0, good vibe, put me in a good mood⚽️🤩

This is very jazz. Like when people say jazz this is that.

Its a classic album, but I have always found him a little hard to appreciate

It was not my style but it was a little good

One of my all time favorites jazz artist, I didn't know the album, only song recompilations. Great album, a must if you like Jazz

jazz is cool but very long music

Talk about getting out of my comfort zone ... I immediately felt like I should be dragging on a cigarette in a smoke filled jazz basement many decades ago. It was a not unpleasant feeling.

loved itttt

A decent jazz album

This one really wasn't my thing. I'm not that familiar with this sort of genre so perhaps there are other artists or albums I'd prefer, but to me this just sounded like a band improvising and jamming with not much context or progression. I've no doubt the players are all wildly proficient at their instruments but it's not the sort of thing I particularly enjoy listening to. I feel it would work in the right setting (I'm imagining an old style jazz club with a house band just keeping the mood going in the background). Unfortunately doesn't hit home for me in this context.

Pretty good

Probably pretty good jazz music; not at all my thing.

Simple pure jazz. Perfect background music for devious side quests

music that i would hear in portillo's

Let’s get weird

A nice jazz album. Good easy listening.

джазы всегда в почете

I like jazz but this wasn't really for me. Sometimes felt like 3 instruments playing separately, not a cohesive group. Not a jazz expert but this wasn't bangers. It did make me feel like I was in french quarter Nola a bit. 0/6 saved

To my ignorant ears, this just sounded like abrasive jazz. That is all

Doceniam, ale wolę inne gatunki jazzu.

The older I get the more I deeply enjoy listening to jazz. Not for the songs themselves, but for the thrill of hearing musicians in the real playing music of supreme quality and expression, taking me on an aural journey.

This is fine, but most of the time feels like a showcase of individual skillsets and not like a coherent composition. If one is into elaborate solos: Go for it. I, however, am not.

С трудом дослушал

Приятный джезз

Not bad

Jazz wasn’t really for me but favorite song - brilliant corners

not my thing

It was nice background music I guess. I feel like this project is trying to make me a fan of jazz and I can’t get anything more than just passive enjoyment out of it. It’s just all kinda noisy.

Aimlessly wandering with a horn and some dudes not playing in unison in the background. Utterly boring, not impressed. Jazz is for Jazz People, it's just nonsensical noise the rest of the planet. 1 star

After yesterday's jazz (John Coltrane A Love Supreme) my initial thought was, Oh No! Not more Jazz! However I enjoyed this listen finding it less intense and causing less anxiety than A Love Supreme!! If I had to listen to jazz again, this would be top of my list. A good example of how 1001 album generator expands the palate!

for me jazz is more of a background music but don't get me wrong i love a good jazz bar where you can dance this album has nice twists to it and i like it's old vibe

Old school jazz. The first song feels like a test, constant change in tempo and speed, gotta be patient. Last one was my fav, but not too much to tell them apart. Enjoyed!

dosta dobar džez album koji mi je lijepo sjeo u knjižnici za čitanja. nije prekaotičan a nije ni jednostavno dosadan

Really nice. Not my usual style but I really enjoyed it.

Very forward looking for a 50’s jazz album.

Not bad! I expected something more hardcore jazz, not to say this isn't but it's easier to listen to than I thought I would get.

La piece titre est invroyable.

Du jazz comme en ferait Numérobis s'il était pas architecte. 3.49 étoiles.

It is a complex but still accessible jazz record. It never quite hits the groove for me. Something I wouldn't complain about if it was in the background for a cocktail mixer.

Slightly oscillated between the sublime and the ridiculous, but overall I liked it more than I didn't. Obligatory not a jazzhead, but there were bits where you'd get lost in it, and others where they sounded like they were noodling completely tunelessly. Thankfully more of the former than the latter I never need to hear a badly mic-ed bass solo ever again though

Not my style but very nice instruments, makes me feel like I’m in a fancy jazzy restaurant

Oh yeah, Monk is a genius.

I started trying to get into jazz as a teenager and I’m not sure I’ve ever quite succeeded. But I never had trouble getting into Monk. His unique takes on time, melody, and harmony always get into my soul as surely as Radiohead does. Returning to this album I think my favorite was “Pannonica” but I’m always up for “Bemsha Swing.” I actually heard it the first time in this Medeski Martin and Wood medley with “Lively Up Yourself” which is just fun: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=75Ma7X2-Pfw Anyway this music puts me in such a state of bliss that I wonder how I give fives to anything below that standard. But I seem to like everything, so on to the next.

Brilliant corners and pannonica are amazing melodies. This album really soars at the end with bemsha swing. This album is like an air fryer or a kettle in that every sensible home should have one. Uplifting and glorious improvisation

Is this great jazz? I wish I knew. I liked it. Influence 5. Quality 4. Intangibles 4. Hits 3. I liked it 4.

I liked it a lot. I went and listened to more of his discography as well for the whole day.

Damn, that’s was some swinging jazz.

Reminds me of being back in jazz band playing Straight No Chaser. It’s good, but I didn’t understand if then and still don’t really now haha

Love it in parts, like it on the whole, like most jazz.

Def going to use this is I’m having a swanky dinner party and want to impress someone

Jazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzz

I wish I had the language to describe what I’m hearing. It’s wonderful but I lack the vocabulary to explain what is happening and why it works. Great music, though. Cool interplay between the musicians. Note combinations that should be atonal somehow work. Very cool.

Really boring album. Mister Monk’s experiments with rhythm were a little bit too disjointed especially on the title track.

This is bopping hard Fav: Bemsha Swing Pannocia Brillant Corners I mean it's all really good stuff, like that Fela Kuti Live album I heard couple weeks ago for the first time this could be a five really

Igjen et objektivt sykt bra album men jeg er ikke i humør for instrumentaljazz på 14 min per sang

Can appreciate it but not my day to day vibe

Really struggled with this album - was so so bored for pretty much all of it, I think I actually hated it Bemsha Swing maybe my fave?

didnt finish, not my vibe but I can see others who like instrumentals liking this 1/10

great for a dinner party

A bit difficult to get into, but I think I could gain an appreciation with more listens.

I am prepared to believe that this is brilliant and Thelonious Monk is a jazz go, but I did not enjoy this. Too many horns and no groove.

brilliant

Interesting album, would not have come across it on my own 7/10, easy-listening. Don't really listen to jazz but I can tell this is incredibly complex and has a lot of interesting motifs throughout.

I vibed even tho not what I usually listen to

I dont listen to much jazz

Sicherlich cool und brilliant, aber streckenweise für meinen Geschmack etwas zu abstrakter Jazz.

dude I dunno this slaps so hard but sometimes the less smooth piano gets makes me feel like a kid at piano lessons. This is a me problem.

7/10

First time listening to Mr. Monk. He has indeed earned such a badass name.

I'm generally a big fan. This is a great recording.

I was already familiar with Monk's collabs with Coltrane and a few of his late 60s live recordings, but I didn't know this album. It's a solid jazz record from start to finish, with a sweet vibe and fantastic perfomances by Monk, Rollins and Roach. It's clearly on the cerebral side (I'm sure I missed a lot of the subtleties involved due to my limited knowledge of hard bop), and it sometimes feel like it lacks a bit of fire - but it never gets boring, and the originality and complexity of Monk's compositions are obvious. Bemsha Swing has become such a classic, I think I've heard at least 3 or 4 different versions of it. The use of a bell-piano in Pannonica was a nice bonus, I don't think I had ever heard something like that before. Will definitely play again ! 7/10

I've been long time fan of Theolonious Monk one of the BeBop leader and his famous "Straight, no chaser". With no jazz skills, I don't feel legitimate to judge bit it's a good listen.

Pleasant for a commute to work. That said, even if I can hear how innovative the album was in terms of structure back in 1957, the production is very much of its time, and some instruments sound rather unpleasant, the mix too, assuming there even is a mix. Still, I do enjoy the celesta on Pannonica and the slightly outdated atmosphere, but this one won’t make it into my jazz pantheon. Bemsha swing is great though.

It starts off so good, awkward and tense with great playfulness, then the intensity fades and it never manages to come near the first track. Best song: Brilliant Corners Worst song: I Surrender, Dear Cover check: Five happy monks

Nice background music for work

Good stuff

You’ve got to dig it to dig it, you dig?

With an absurd number of 5/5 albums, I don't say this lightly that on Brillant Corners Monk is heard at the peak of his powers. Yes, I'm saying that this is his absolute best album. Peak Monk is high art- this is an album that's essential for anyone hoping to build even a small comprehensive jazz collection. Not having this album in your collection if you are a lover of the genre is akin to having a classical music library & not including any Beethoven- pure madness. I like most kinds of jazz (yes even a little fusion) but this hard bob stuff is probably my favorite. It just seems to speak to me on a very personal level. What a terrific way to end a truly great year. If I'm awake tonight as 2025 turns into 2026 you can bet that Brilliant Corners will be playing.

Smooth jazz for coffee and a cigar

revolutionary jazz album, def a pioneer of it's time period!!

liked it but not really a jazz fan. still 4 stars

Kind of just feels like a standard, middle of the road jazz album. It seems to not even be one of Monk’s more popular works, but a fine way to spend a morning.

Panonnica was beautiful

Overall rating by me 5/10 Notes: As much as I love all kinds of jazz and alike, this one was a disappointment for me. Genuinely, had it not been for the random hitch pitch trumpet notes during the songs, easily every song would've been on the playlist. Otherwise - they would simply just put me out of focus every single time I worked on something while listening, so it's sadly a hard skip for me.

I appreciate that this is probably a lot better then I'll give it credit for. Jazz for me is a genre i generally prefer to hear live and for my tastes, I found it a little too meandering.

Magical

love it! gives the vibe of my fav coffee shop

did not like - this is the first album i couldn’t finish. i’m sure there’s something i’m missing because jazz isn’t my normal genre but it just feels unsettling, unfinished, and off.

Brilliant all over

There's only one Thelonious Monk... album on this list, so listen up. While obviously not as important as acts like Joy Division or Pixies (who have several required listening albums), Thelonious Monk's innovative rhythmic style did leave a mark on jazz. This is very much a textbook on improvisation and soloing and feels more like it should be studied than listened to "for fun" (as I've mentioned on other jazz album reviews). This kind of highly technical composition lends itself to being "music for nerds", but those nerds start jam bands or invent prog rock and suddenly the ideas are creeping into the mainstream. For me, jazz is great background music when I'm working with my hands. Its busy enough that I can't entirely zone it out and that means my mind stays focused on what I'm working on instead of wandering onto a 3rd thing. This would be a great addition to my workshop rotation.

Not a big fan of blues/jazz. But I can appreciate it. Quite relaxing but it reminds me of some posh restaurant from a movie lol

Brilliant indeed.

No conocía a Thelonious Monk, que bestia. Gran álbum

Yet another jazz album I don't get. It doesn't even work as background music. The minute you start drifting off grooving to the bass, here comes a piano note that clashes with everything else (but then somehow works). They obviously are talented, it's just not for me.

Genial

3.4/5 It feels like an injustice not having coffee in my system when listening to this album. I liked it, I listened to it while on my way to work on Monday 29th of December 2025. It is a vibe.

Great tribute to David Beckham

Super cool,TM the greatest jazzman of them all, groundbreaking stuff for the decade. Love this and a perfect listen on Boxing Day morning before the madness of a full house begins with

Good but not something for daily listening. 3/5

Pretty interesting one, but not my jam :/ There were some tracks that had rhythms or motifs that I found myself liking, but ultimately felt more out of my wheelhouse in the freeform/ultra-jazzy jazz style. BANGER lineup w/ Sonny Rollins + Ernie Henry + Clark Terry tho!!! Fav Track: I Surrender, Dear

Very enjoyable

i like jazz

Bien, agradable, pero no me emocionó como otros discos que he escuchado de Thelonious. Supongo que él mismo puso la vara demasiado alta. Pero el cuarteto que se juntó aquí sí logra varios momentos brillantes.

Não sou muito de escutar jazz, porém escutar monk me traz movimento. Seus contra baixos são o destaque.

Why was this 10 hours long

Niet heel bijzonder

Really enjoyed this one

Very enjoyable jazz

J A Z Z

Really smooth jazz, immediately took me to the time the album came out form, and yet it feels timeless.

"Play some jazz" "What jazz?" "Just jazz"

Delightful

Smooth, Jazzy, and Bluesy. Just what I wanted.

Not really my type of music, but I didn't mind it as background music for chores. Fave track: Bemsha Swing