A smaller serving than the refurbished Live at the Jazz Workshop, Live in Tokyo is nevertheless a welcome meal for Monk fans. Previously an expensive Japan-only release, this excellently recorded 1963 visit finds the Monk/Charlie Rouse/Butch Warren/Frankie Dunlop quartet in enthusiastic fettle. On Monk"s first visit to the country, he seems determined to offer as many sides of his art as possible. From "Just a Gigolo," given a solo reading that"s sprightly even for this cherished favorite of the pianist, to extended takes on "Hackensack" and "Blue Monk" that provide dramatic climaxes to the show (Dunlop"s interaction and interjections on the latter handily recall Art Blakey"s explosive work on the 1954 Prestige version) this is one high-powered résumé. Listeners will understand why Monk was welcomed back lovingly to Japan several more times: judging from the audience response here, he made nothing but friends on this initial trip. --Rickey Wright