Thelonious Monk : Mønk - The Official Reel-to-Reel Tape Edition

Reel-to-Reel has always been the true gold standard for serious listeners, delivering studio-quality sound, bringing the master tape quality into your home.

Each of our official Reel-to-Reel Tape Edition titles are duplicated in real time from a 1:1 copy of the original flat analog master tape, faithfully reflecting the source. The tapes are 15 i.p.s half tack 1/4 inch master copies, resulting in a master-quality listening experience that captures the full dynamics of the recording : it really does sound like the musicians are in the room with you.

Produced to the IEC standard, these tapes are premium RTM  tape stock on 10.5-inch metal reels, housed in unique custom-made boxes and complete with an accompanying booklet, these releases are designed for lifetime longevity when stored in a cool, clean place away from magnetic fields. 

Hot on the heels of Impulse’s recent unearthed Coltrane number one hit album comes another beauty from Jazz’s ‘holy trinity’. This is a previously unreleased, precious lost treasure from Monk’s most critically acclaimed line-up; Charlie Rouse on saxophone, John Ore on double bass, and Frankie Dunlop on drums. Without a widely agreed must-have Monk release, could this fill the void as the Monk everyone should own?

 Recorded live in Copenhagen in 1963 at the peak of Monk’s career. A year later he was to feature on the cover of TIME magazine, one of only for 4 Jazz artists ever to do so. The performance, a mixture of Monk originals and interpretations of standards, showcases Monk at his prime: full of avant-garde flair and wit, but always with a swinging feel that explains his title as the 'High Priest of Bebop'. The original tapes, saved from a skip and blessed with the approval of the Monk estate, have been faithfully restored, mastered and cut using Gearbox's legendary all-analogue process.