This Cd was selected by Jazz Times magazine as the best release of 2005. The material was recorded at Carnegie Hall as a Voice of America Radio broadcast in November 1957. It was never broadcast and then stuck in a vault until last year.
It is significant for several reasons . One is there are not many recordings of these two together. Another is, the sound quality which is what you would expect at Carnegie Hall. Also, at this particular time Coltrane had just recovered form alcohol and drug problems and had just been “fired “ by miles Davis. Monk helped him personally and Musically. And this group had been playing for many months so its cohesiveness was really together.
Above all it is Monk’s wonderful quirky writing that makes it special and fun! Monk just makes you smile!