Thelonious Monk:

Underground:(1968)

Amongst Jazz composers, few were as innovative, or as willing to go as far out passed the road sign as Thelonious Monk. This was a man of vision. And, he didn't seem to care particularly if you liked his vision or not, he was moving forward. Always moving forward. On this album, sax player Charlie Rouse appears on only half the album because he had to miss one recording date for a funeral. There was no waiting for him to grieve. Much the same way the music stands on its own, and doesn't make time to explain itself to the listener, it says its piece, and moves on. A tremendous album by a tremendous artist.