The Five Spot, 1957

In 1951 Monk lost his cabaret card, the licence New York then required of anyone who played in a club where drink was sold. For six years he could record and play concerts, but not work in the city's bars.

Back on the Bowery

He got the card back in 1957 and in July opened at the Five Spot Café, on the Bowery, with John Coltrane on tenor, Wilbur Ware on bass and Shadow Wilson on drums. The quartet stayed until the end of the year.

Working with Monk brought me close to a musical architect of the highest order. John Coltrane, DownBeat, 29 September 1960