Riverside Archives - Best of Jazz

All posts tagged “Riverside”

The Best Thelonious Monk Albums

Thelonious Sphere Monk was a pioneer of modern jazz music. Known for his eccentricity and improvisational impishness, Monk’s performances said as much with their silences as the raw chords that dominated some of the more stripped-back ballads.

Monk was also one of the most prolific composers in the history of jazz. Throughout his career, he recorded albums for labels including Blue Note, Prestige Records, and Riverside Records. Somehow, we’ve managed to unpick all of those releases to find The Mad Monk’s 10 of the best.

The 10 Best Bill Evans Albums

Bill Evans’ greatest talent was his unparalleled ability to convey emotion through his music. What stands out most about listening to his records today is the emotional breadth his piano reaches. Evans had depth in a way no other jazz musician did. His mature style, nuanced touch and widely imitated sound have left an indelible mark on the jazz landscape. Today, we revisit the 10 albums that put Bill Evans on the jazz map forever.