If Genius Volume One in this series stands out for repertoire, volume 2 shines for the better ensemble performances. The challenges of "Four in One" and "Criss-Cross", for instance, inspire vibraphonist Milt Jackson to slithery heights, and Thelonious Monk's architectonic comping sparks altoist Sahib Shihab and trumpeter Kenny Dorham to exploratory heights. One of the first recorded jazz waltzes, "Carolina Moon", reveals Monk's penchant for reviving obscure standards on his own irreverent terms, while the unaccompanied "I'll Follow You" allows us to peak at the pianist-composer thinking out loud. No serious jazz collection should be without a sampling from Monk's Blue Note output, and this is as good a place to start as any. --Jed Distler