Monk/Coltrane Session Highlights New Releases

The first “live” recordings of the Thelonious Monk quartet that featured the great John Coltrane highlight a slate of excellent new releases or reissues scheduled for the first three months of the new year.

The innovative Monk and Coltrane, who played together for one brief summer in 1957, are heard playing on “At the Five Spot,” recorded at the defunct New York jazz spot by Coltrane’s ex-wife, Naima, and due in March on Blue Note Records. Though the mercurial artists made a select number of studio recordings, which are available on Milestone and Original Jazz Classic label reissues, they have previously never been captured in live performance.

Backed by bassist Ahmed Abdul-Malik and Roy Haynes on drums, the two jazz giants play “In Walked Bud,” “I Mean You” and three others. The potent, flurries-of-notes brand of improvisation that characterized Coltrane’s late ‘50s period is showcased here. Caveat: sound quality is fair at best.

Among the January releases is the major label debut of the fine, be-bop-based pianist Lou Levy. Known from his work over the years with Stan Getz, Levy will be heard on Verve Records with “Lunarcy,” scheduled to be in the stores on Jan. 23.

Teaming up with saxman Pete Christlieb, the ubiquitous bassist Eric Von Essen and drummer Ralph Penland, Levy offers nine tracks, including the title, which is a reworking of the old standard “How High the Moon.” Levy first recorded the tune on a Warne Marsh-Christlieb date for Warner Bros. about a decade ago. “It has a Monkish-sounding” melody, he said, so he suggested the title, which combines lunar and lunacy . Hence, “Lunarcy.”

Also due out in January: “The Complete Riverside Recordings of Wes Montgomery,” on Riverside; “Soul Embrace,” by L.A.-based pop/jazz saxman Richard Elliott, on Manhattan Records, and a trio session with ace N.Y.-based pianist James Williams, on DIW/Columbia.

An early February release on Blue Note is planned for John Scofield’s “What We Do,” which is the long-awaited album by the guitarist’s marvelous working quartet, featuring saxophonist Joe Lovano, bassist Dennis Irwin and drummer Bill Stewart. The band, which has appeared at both the Strand in Redondo Beach and Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood, is one of the top contemporary jazz units. It showcases the remarkable ability of both Scofield and Lovano to solo “inside”--that is, using a tune’s harmonic chord progressions as a basis for a melodic idea--and “outside,” basically disregarding that harmonic fulcrum when improvising.

Scofield will also be on board on drummer-composer Jack DeJohnette’s “Fifth World” album for Blue Note, which includes Vernon Reid and Will Keller. Also out in February are a live Branford Marsalis date for Columbia; an album by mainstream guitarist Howard Alden for Concord Jazz, and “Bird’s Night,” a program of the music of Charlie Parker as played by Phil Woods, Duke Jordan, and others, on Savoy.

Another March highlight will be the solo debut on Warner Bros. by Joshua Redman. The 23-year-old Redman, winner of the 1991 Thelonious Monk competition who has recorded with such veterans as drummer Elvin Jones and pianist John Hicks, is seen by many to be one of the most outstanding new talents in jazz.

Producer Matt Pierson, who oversaw the Redman album, is one admirer. “I’m totally knocked out by him,” said Pierson. “Joshua has his own thing at age 23, and these days it’s hard to have that kind of originality because there are so many other players to be compared with.”

Redman, son of adventurous tenor saxophonist Dewey Redman, covers a broad swath of material on his album, from a lush version of the classic ballad, “Body and Soul” and some solid blues playing to a not-so-tongue-in-cheek version of James Brown’s “I Got You.”

Other releases coming out in March: a Latin-based date from former Prince saxman Eric Leeds, on Warner Bros.; an album of classic pop songs from pianist Renee Rosnes, on Blue Note; the debut of Seattle-based pianist Travis Shook, on Columbia, and Harold Mabern, live at Maybeck Hall, on Concord Jazz.

Critic’s Choice: Pianists Roger Kellaway, Frank Strazzeri, Gerald Wiggins and Terry Trotter, saxophonists Bill Perkins and Plas Johnson and bassists John Clayton and Andy Simpkins take part in a tribute to the bassist Red Mitchell, who died recently. The affair is being held tonight, 5:30 to 10:30, at the Jazz Bakery in Culver City. Admission: $15.