High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Jazz pianist Thelonious Monk`s first sessions as a bandleader were recorded between 1947 and 1952, and released on Blue Note records as a series of 78 RPM singles. These singles were then compiled in later years--with additional performances from the sessions--into long-playing album formats. As Monk`s reputation and fame grew, the sessions were recompiled again and again into more complete configurations. This article details various releases of these sessions.