Jazz writer David H. Rosenthal later called it a "classic" hard bop session. Music critic Robert Christgau said that, along with his 1958 live album Misterioso, Brilliant Corners represents Monk's artistic peak. In his five-star review of the album, Allmusic's Lindsay Planer wrote that it "may well be considered the alpha and omega of post-World War II American jazz. No serious jazz collection should be without it." Awarding a maximum four-star rating, The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings included the album in its suggested “core collection” of essential recordings. In 2003, Brilliant Corners was one of fifty recordings chosen that year by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry. It has also been included in the reference book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, with reviewer Andrew Gilbert saying it "marked Monk's return as composer of the first order." Because of its historical significance the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. Track listing All tracks written by Thelonious Monk except where noted Side One "Brilliant Corners" - 7:42 "Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are" - 13:24 Side Two "Pannonica" - 8:50 "I Surrender, Dear" (Harry Barris) - 5:25 "Bemsha Swing" (Thelonious Monk, Denzil Best) - 7:42 Personnel Musicians Thelonious Monk – piano; piano and celeste on "Pannonica", solo piano on I Surrender Dear Ernie Henry – alto saxophone on "Brilliant Corners", "Ba-lue Bolivar Ba-lues-are" and in ensemble on "Pannonica" Sonny Rollins – tenor saxophone (except "I Surrender Dear") Oscar Pettiford – double bass on "Brilliant Corners", "Ba-lue Bolivar Ba-lues-are" and "Pannonica" Max Roach – drums (except "I Surrender Dear"); timpani on "Bemsha Swing" Clark Terry – trumpet on "Bemsha Swing" Paul Chambers – double bass on "Bemsha Swing" Production Orrin Keepnews – producer Jack Higgins – engineer Joe Tarantino – mastering References Bibliography Further reading External links 1957 albums Thelonious Monk albums Sonny Rollins albums United States National Recording Registry recordings Riverside Records albums Albums produced by Orrin Keepnews Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients Original Jazz Classics albums United States National Recording Registry albums