Monk's Music was recorded in June 1957 in New York for Riverside and surrounds the pianist/composer with a stellar crew: trumpeter Ray Copeland, alto saxophonist Gigi Gryce, tenor saxophonists John Coltrane and Coleman Hawkins, bassist Wilbur Ware and drummer Art Blakey. "What makes this one of the most fascinating recordings of Monk's career is the complexity of the material combined with the caliber of musicians available to play it," Phillips says. "John Coltrane and Coleman Hawkins, two legends of the tenor saxophone, play Monk's music side by side. That alone makes this a very special recording. These are two artists with very different styles and two artists who have had a profound influence on legions of other saxophonists."