''Reflections'' (subtitled ''Steve Lacy Plays Thelonious Monk'') is the second album by

Steve Lacy Steve Lacy may refer to: Music * Steve Lacy (saxophonist) (1934–2004), American jazz saxophonist and composer * Steve Lacy (singer) (born 1998), American musician Other occupations *Steve Lacy (coach) (1908–2000), American college sports coach ...

which was released on the Prestige label in 1959. It features performances of

Thelonious Monk Thelonious Sphere Monk (, October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including " 'Round Midnight", ...

's compositions by Lacy,

Mal Waldron Malcolm Earl "Mal" Waldron (August 16, 1925 – December 2, 2002) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. He started playing professionally in New York in 1950, after graduating from college. In the following dozen years or so Wa ...

, Buell Neidlinger and

Elvin Jones Elvin Ray Jones (September 9, 1927 – May 18, 2004) was an American jazz drummer of the post-bop era. Most famously a member of John Coltrane's quartet, with whom he recorded from late 1960 to late 1965, Jones appeared on such widely celebra ...

. (According to biographer Robin Kelley, this was the first album devoted entirely to Monk's music recorded by another artist.)

Reception

The

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the dat ...

review by

Scott Yanow Scott Yanow (born October 4, 1954) is an American jazz reviewer, historian, and author. Allmusic Biography/ref> Biography Yanow was born in New York City and grew up near Los Angeles. Since 1974, he was a regular reviewer of many jazz styles a ...

stated: "All of soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy's early recordings are quite fascinating, for during 1957-1964, aspects of his style at times hinted at Dixieland, swing, Monk, and Cecil Taylor, sometimes at the same time. For this CD reissue (a straight reproduction of the original New Jazz LP), Lacy teams up with pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Buell Neidlinger, and drummer Elvin Jones for seven Thelonious Monk compositions. The typical standbys (such as 'Round Midnight,' 'Straight No Chaser,' and 'Blue Monk') are avoided in favor of more complex works such as 'Four in One,' 'Bye-Ya,' and 'Skippy'; the sweet ballad 'Ask Me Now' is a highpoint. Lacy always had an affinity for Monk's music and, even nearly 40 years later, this set is a delight.".Yanow, S.
Allmusic Review
accessed June 22, 2011

Track listing

# "Four In One" - 6:01 # "Reflections" - 4:09 # "Hornin' In" - 5:11 # "Bye-Ya" - 4:40 # "Let's Call This" - 7:15 # "Ask Me Now" - 4:58 # "Skippy" - 4:16 :''All compositions by Thelonious Monk'' :*Recorded in Hackensack, NJ, October 17, 1958

Personnel

- soprano saxophone *

- piano * Buell Neidlinger - bass *

- drums

References

{{Authority control 1959 albums New Jazz Records albums Steve Lacy (saxophonist) albums Thelonious Monk tribute albums Albums recorded at Van Gelder Studio