The pairing of Thelonious Monk and Gerry Mulligan must have resembled a clash in cultures at the time it took place. Here was Monk, as East Coast as could be, connecting with the musician who, more than anyone else, introduced the concept of West Coast Jazz to the world. Yet the pair shared not only mutual respect but also many common musical values, and their historic conclave, featuring an indelible version of Monk's Round Midnight (and, on this CD reissue, four intriguing alternate takes), identified a common ground where the sinew in Mulligan's sound and Monk's economy and whimsy appeared in greater relief. This is jazz without coasts or borders.
