Thelonious Monk – Brilliant Corners (White/Black Splatter Vinyl)

Brilliant Corners’ was Thelonious Monk’s third album for Riverside Records, and the first, for this label, to include his own compositions. The assembled quartet for the lion’s share of the sessions included Max Roach (percussion), Sonny Rollins (tenor sax), Oscar Pettiford (bass), and Ernie Henry (alto sax). Brilliant Corners may well be considered the alpha and omega of post-World War II American jazz. No serious jazz collection should be without it.