Monk's Mood is a jazz ballad composed by Thelonious Monk. It closes the 1957 Riverside album Thelonious Himself, where Monk plays solo piano for most of the record and this final track features John Coltrane on tenor saxophone and Wilbur Ware on bass. The album was recorded in New York City in April 1957 and released that year; it was Monk's fourth Riverside release and his second solo piano studio album, notable for being the first American-distributed solo piano album on the label. The performance showcases Monk's distinctive melodic and harmonic approach, with Coltrane adding a lyrical saxophone voice to the intimate mood. The cover photo was taken by Paul Weller at Reeves Sound Studios, and the album was produced by Orrin Keepnews.
