Monk came to Prestige from Blue Note where he recorded with several groups of varying sizes including some trios. At Prestige his first two dates (October and Dec. 1952) were strictly in a trio context with Art Blakey on the first and Max Roach the second. Two other selections, with Blakey, came from a 1964 trio session. This album contains the debut recordings of "Little Rootie Tootie", " Bemsha Swing" and "Blue Monk".