#1273 Thelonius Monk - Genius of Modern Music Vol. 1 (8-song 1951 ed.)

Like the also-1951-released, just-reviewed Dizzy album, this is  made up of mostly 3-minute little songs. But this is harder jazz, big horn blasts, simmering moods, strange little rhythmic hitches and room to breathe (Misterioso!), especially during (unsurprisingly) the piano solos, knotted little bejewled baubles, each. It's fascinating, unknowable, cool, plenty of notes landing off-center and settling into place a half-measure later, playful and intricate, worthy of close listens 3.5/5