Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk

On May 14 and 15, 1957, piano great Thelonious Monk joined drummer Art Blakey and his loose musical collective known as the Jazz Messengers to record an album for Atlantic Records.  The resulting LP, Monk's lone appearance on the label, remains a high point in both artists' discographies.  Blakey and Monk were joined by Johnny Griffin on tenor saxophone, Bill Hardman on trumpet, and bassist Spanky DeBrest for the session which featured such Monk compositions as "In Walked Bud," "Blue Monk," and "Rhythm-a-Ning."  (Monk penned all of the album save one song co-written with Coleman Hawkins, and one track written by Griffin.)  Rhino's expanded edition, available on 2 LPs or 2 CDs, features the original album supplemented by six session outtakes.  Ashley Kahn has authored the new liner notes.