by Scott Yanow
This French Vogue reissue CD combines together two unrelated solo piano sets. The nine performances by Thelonious Monk are a bit familiar since these renditions (which are highlighted by &'Round Midnight,& &Well You Needn't,& &We See& and &Hackensack&) had been previously reissued by GNP/Crescendo and Mosaic. However the 13 selections (including three alternate takes) by Joe Turner (no relation to singer Big Joe Turner) are much rarer. Turner, a talented American stride pianist who spent most of his life living in France, had only recorded ten songs as a leader prior to this 1952 session and is in top form for such numbers as &Hallelujah,& &Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea,& &Wedding Boogie& and three versions of &Tea for Two.& This CD is easily recommended to jazz piano collectors who do not already have the Monk selections.