Tonight on The Jazz Feature we present a group pf recording sessions that feature two great iconoclasts of Jazz music.: Art Blakey and Thelonious Monk who are celebrating their Birthday Anniversaries on Oct 10 (Monk) and Oct. 11 (Blakey). Blakey and Monk not only shared musical empathy but a lifelong friendship. Blakey was the drummer on Monk's very first recordings in 1947 and they continued that association over the years. Our first session is a trio date, his first for Prestige records in 1952. The second is a fine quintet date again for Prestige in 1954 with trumpeter Ray Copeland a and and tenor saxophonist Frank Foster. The third is a date that features an early working Monk band from late 1955, a quartet featuring alto saxophonist Gigi Gryce. It was issued under Gryce's name as Monk had just signed a new recording contract and didn't wish to jeopardize it. It's a fine date with four great compositions that are rare in Monk's repertoire. Finally from 1958, a live date from the legendary Five Spot Cafe with Monk's quartet with tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin and Art Blakey sitting-in for the final tune of the night. All of these performances show the beautiful musical empathy between Thelonious Monk and Art Blakey, two giants who shaped Jazz music forever.

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