Recorded in December 1956, Brilliant Corners was Monk’s first Riverside LP to feature his own compositions. Indeed, it seems the music was so risky that the liner notes are an almost apologetic warning to the listener. It’s brilliant stuff, fresh and alive these 67 years later. As the fifth title in Craft Recordings’ Small Batch Series, featuring a one-step lacquer process, cut all-analog by Bernie Grundman from the original master tapes, the sound here bests (by a fair margin) Analogue Productions’ excellent 45 set from 20 years ago. And though I don’t own either an original pressing or The Electric Record Co.’s recent mono edition, from the opening grooves of the title track it’s clear what this stereo release delivers. It’s intensely alive, more upfront and dynamically forceful, with exceptional clarity, focus, and a kind of you-are-there intimacy. Max Roach’s drum break is mind-boggling in terms of tone, texture, sheer tympanic wallop, and air around the kit. Then, Sonny Rollins tonguing the reed of his tenor, Monk’s percussive, plinkety-plonk, unmistakable voice, Oscar Pettiford’s walking then running bass lines. The entire thing is dead quiet, so the instruments emerge from a ghostly silent backdrop. Limited to 4000 copies. If you can still find it, do!