My first reaction to Drew’s question was Coltrane, hands down. As a tenor saxophonist Trane was the master, both as a performer and as an influence on others. Someone once asked me if I had to go off somewhere for the rest of my life and I could only have access to one album from my collection what would it be–my answer was Coltrane’s Lush Life, it is truly amazing. Monk, on the other hand, was an interesting pianist with a very distinct style that has been imitated by others but primarily as a self-conscious attempt to play in the style of Monk. This is as opposed to someone like Bill Evans whose approach to improvisation (like Trane) comes out subconsciously in the playing of all serious jazz pianists. Don’t get me wrong, I love listening to Monk. My two favorite ablbums are “Solo Monk” and “Underground.”
Then I realized that the question was more broad–NC’s greatest musician. I think that Monk was clearly a better composer than Coltrane–I don’t think Coltrane ever came up with a melody even close to ‘Round Midnight, for example and there is no better blues than Straight No Chaser.
My final verdict is that Drew focused on the right two people and it is impossible to choose.
