Editorial Review:

Album Description:
Aussie remastered reissue of the Thelonious Monk tribute band's 1983 album for Elektra. Digipak.

Album Details:
Remastered from original analogue tapes. Spinning with dynamic energy, Sphere's second album from 1984 showcases four brilliant originals by the members of the quartet itself.

Rating: - The Best Jazz Album You've Never Heard Of
This a fantastic album that has never received the attention or acclaim it deserved. There's nothing fancy about it, none of the musicians is a superstar. But if you like traditional, straight ahead, no nonsense jazz, this is the album for you. From the haunting opening notes of the first cut ("If I Should Lose You") to the hard bop feel of Charlie Rouse's "Pumpkin's Delight" and Kenny Barron's "Flight Path", to the gentle lyricism of Buster Williams' "Christina", there's something for every jazz ... Read More

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Rating: - Rediscovering a tenor sax master, Charlie Rouse
"Sphere".The name of this groups refers to the great Thelonious Sphere Monk.Two of the musicians of this quartet happened to be Monk's musicians for many years: tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse (1924-1988) and drummer Ben Riley.The great Kenny Barron on piano and Buster Williams on bass complete the group.Sphere was created at the beginning of 1982,and the first record of the group,"four in one",also produced by Elektra Musician,was incredibly recorded on February 17,1982;it was entirely dedicated to ... Read More

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Rating: - The coolest
This album is one of my all-time favorite jazz records, and it's never had a U.S. release on CD. Just this year this disc and the also-excellent first Sphere album "Four in One" were relased in Europe.

Both albums are fitting tributes to Monk, with the great Kenny Barron sitting in his spot and joining two longtime Monk alums, Charlie Rouse and Ben Riley, with Buster Williams on bass.

The albums are full of marvelous music and are spectacularly well-recorded. If you're a vinyl ... Read More