It was not until 1961 that Thelonious Monk made his first European tour, with a quartet that included Charlie Rouse (then near the beginning of their decade-long association). The Paris and Milan concerts were recorded and eventually released as the final output of Monk's six-year tenure with Riverside. Selections from both performances were intermingled on a two-album set titled Two Hours with Thelonious. This slightly later release duplicated the April 21, 1961 concert at the Teatro Lirico, but is unique in presenting the Italian material by itself in a single package.

with Charlie Rouse, John Ore, Frankie Dunlop