Monk – Live in Paris, 1967: Volume One, arriving this spring.

Today our younger generation of jazz listeners are discovering the acoustic merits of vinyl. The sound is so much bigger and warmer than the so-called cleanliness of digital CDs.

Monk Live in Paris, 1967 Volume One Will be Available on 180-Gram Vinyl and Digital Platforms on April 24, 2026 via the Thelonious Monk Estate’s
Rhythm-A-Ning Entertainment
 
Captured at the Height of Monk’s Creative Powers, This Historic Performance Showcases the Pianist and Composer with His Classic Quartet: Charlie Rouse (Tenor Saxophone), Larry Gales (Bass), and Ben Riley (Drums)
The Monk Estate is Also Partnering with Optimo, a Premier Luxury Hat company, Launching the Release of its Second Icon Series Hat, Created in Honor of the Visionary Pianist

Only 88 Hats Will be Produced
 
For its first 70 years, the profound art of jazz made originality, singularity and unrestricted vision prime requisites of its expression – not just in musicality, but also in personality, image, style and demeanor. The unparalleled composer/pianist/visionary Thelonious Sphere Monk epitomized every aspect of this in exponential form. As a result, he occupies a unique position in the Jazz Pantheon.

Every aspect of this extraordinary man epitomizes jazz expression at its most compelling level. His visual presence – his headwear, his glasses, his sartorial style – matched with his remarkably profound verbal statements, the way he danced around the piano during other musicians’ solos; and even more importantly, his brilliant compositions that are both starkly angular, yet gorgeously lyrical, and matched by his piano playing which made dissonance and fractured rhythms so utterly delightful, make Thelonious Monk stand out dynamically even amidst his other transcendent peers.  

Capitalizing on all of this, the Monk Estate is launching a comprehensive plan to launch a new ongoing series of archival recordings under its authorized control of material that has been circulated for years as bootlegs – and is doing so with clever brand marketing that will further express the legendary presence and spirit of this singular iconoclast.
The initial release, Monk Live in Paris, 1967 Volume One, is very special, not only for its merging of these elements, but also because it showcases Monk’s longstanding quartet featuring tenor man Charlie Rouse and the bass/drums tandem of Larry Gales and Ben Riley, who are joined by five very special guest horn men. Alto saxophonist Phil Woods, trombonist Jimmy Cleveland, Ray Copeland and tenor titan Johnny Griffin (Rouse’s predecessor in the quartet) perform in various permutations – with the full nonet, including trumpet legend Clark Terry, coming together in Volume Two of this wonderful concert recording(to be released October 9, 2026). 

Volume One includes four Monk classics (an apt description of virtually every one of his compositions) – “Epistrophy,” with a scorching, growlingly muscular Griffin solo and a lyrical and adventurous Copeland solo; the deliciously syncopated “Evidence,” with sparkling Rouse, another terrific solo by Copeland; and bluesy, wickedly swinging Woods. On both extended pieces, the four horns provide densely harmonic thematic statements and some adventurous riffing that spurs on the soloists for a spontaneous feeling with a jam session atmosphere of jubilant excitement. “We See,” again highlights Rouse and Copeland; with the beautiful “Ruby, My Dear” just featuring the original quartet completing the package. Of course, Monk brings his totally singular piano stylings to each piece; and Gales and Riley both offer their own outstanding contributions as well.

Monk’s son, T.S. Monk, says Monk Live in Paris was chosen to showcase the caliber of musicians who traveled with Monk, though not excluding Charlie Rouse, who is most familiar to his public. “Giants like Rollins and Coltrane, Abdul Malik Roy Haynes or Art Blakey, Mingus and Max Roach spent much time with Monk, but they didn't travel that much,” Monk says. “People are quite aware of his touring and recording quartet, his colleagues as a young man at Minton’s Playhouse, like Dizzy, Bird, Charlie Christian, Red Rodney, Kenny Clark and so on. His touring with larger ensembles especially in Europe, not as much. The Clark Terry’s, Phil Woods, Thad Jones', the Jimmy Cleveland’s, Jonny Griffith's and others highlight the respect his peers had for him. Men in some cases that often led their own bands. These musicians traveled for the art as much as the money! In some cases, more so! They all loved Monk and their presence is a tribute to his artistry.” 

For Volume One, the Monk Estate is partnering with Optimo, a premier luxury hat company, launching the release of its second Icon Series hat, created in honor of the visionary pianist. Titled The Monk, this marks only the second Icon Series release from Optimo. (The first was a specification-accurate reproduction of the personal hat style worn by world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright.) 

For The Monk edition, only 88 hats will be produced—referencing the 88 keys of the piano. Each hat will be individually numbered and offered in three colors: Black, Smoke, and ’Round Midnight Grey, a custom color developed for this release. The design is based on the hats Monk wore in the 1960s, closely associated with the visual identity of modern jazz and Black Ivy style. Each hat includes the first pressing of the recording, produced in a special edition color and signed by Thelonious Sphere Monk III and Optimo founder Graham Thompson.

“Thelonious Monk never wrote music to fit a system,” says Thelonious Monk, IV, Monk’s grandson. “He wrote to expand imagination and move the culture forward. We’ve spent years navigating piracy, legacy structures, and an industry not always built for artist control. This album release marks a shift — stewarded independently, handled with intention, and delivered directly to listeners. Legacy isn’t something you just inherit — it’s something you defend and reinvent. This is a milestone not just for our family, but for anyone who believes in art over formula.” 
 
The recording is presented as a 180-gram audiophile pressing and was selected by Thelonious Sphere Monk III as the first in a new series of previously unreleased, rare live recordings, mastered by Rudy Van Gelder. The album cover artwork was designed by Japanese graphic designer and artist Gaku Inada. The recording is also available as a digital download.

Special thanks to DL Media for their support with the announcement.