CANDID RECORDS announces reissue of Thelonious Monk's "The Classic Quartet"

Candid Record is announcing another remastered reissue of one of the masterpieces of its catalogue: "The Classic Quartet" by Thelonious Monk. Originally recorded in 1963 and now remastered by Award Winning Engineer Bernie Grundman, "The Classic Quartet" is being released for the first time on vinyl in over 35 years.

At the time of this recording, Thelonious Monk was at both a creative and critical peak. He had recently signed with Columbia Records, notably one of the biggest jazz labels in the world at the time, and the following year became the third jazz musician in history to appear on the cover of Time Magazine.

"The Classic Quartet" is comprised of Charlie Rouse on tenor saxophone, Butch Warren on bass, and Frankie Dunlop on drums.  The recording captures what is undoubtedly one of the very best sets of the era. The songs, classic Monk repertoire, will be familiar to any Monk fan.  That includes what is by all accounts an exceptional version of one of Monk’s favorite standards, “Just A Gigolo.”
This recording is the audio portion of a television show recorded in Tokyo during Monk’s 1963 tour of Japan.  Not to be confused with the live album of that same 1963 tour, Monk In Tokyo, released on Columbia Records.  It also should be noted that the recordings here were previously released as Thelonious Monk 1963 Japan, at various times, by various labels.  
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About Candid Records
Between 1960 - 1963 founder, A&R man, and producer Nat Hentoff recorded over 30 extraordinary albums for the new Candid Records label. One cannot underestimate the breadth of these recordings - From bebop, to the avant-garde, to blues. Candid sat dormant for years until Black Lion Records founder and producer, Alan Bates, bought the label in 1989. Picking up where Hentoff left off, Bates recorded, and acquired a wide variety of jazz artists. He signed American treasures like legendary journey-man pianist Kenny Barron, the great organist Shirley Scott, and saxophonist Donald Harrison Jr., and with a keen eye for emerging talent, he helped launch the careers of Jamie Cullum and Stacey Kent. The next phase of Candid Records is happening now. Titles from the Hentoff years are being restored and remastered. Live At The Detroit Jazz Festival and new STANDARDS vol. 1 join Eliane Elias' Mirror Mirror in the list of GRAMMY Awards achieved by Candid artists since the recent relaunch of the label. Today’s Candid is not only committed to its legacy but looks forward to defining its future with the quality of music that is synonymous with its heritage.
 
About Exceleration Music
Exceleration Music is a company formed by global music industry leaders Glen Barros, Amy Dietz, John Burk, Dave Hansen and Charles Caldas to invest in the future of independent labels and artists. Exceleration offers personalized solutions to entrepreneurs seeking capital to achieve growth as well as those trying to achieve liquidity or an honorable exit. The company’s growing team of data, sales and marketing experts works to preserve and enhance the legacies of both the entrepreneurs and their artists alike. To date, Exceleration has strategic relationships with SideOneDummy, Alligator Records, Candid Records, Bloodshot Records, Kill Rock Star, Mom+ Pop and the Ray Charles Foundation/Tangerine Records and Heroic Music Group.

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