Any Monk-Heads out there?

[BigWig Will]

Earlier last night I was studying for my Trig exam. Not exactly in the best mood, so I decided to put in Thelonious Monk's "Monk in Tokyo". Great CD and put me in a really good mood! In my Jazz history class, I was the only person who really liked his stuff, everyone else thought it was kinda weird. But I think "Off Minor" from his album with John Coltrane is one of the funkiest tunes ever!

Anyone else into him?

[Da_Niet]

Monk is by far my fave out of the bop pioneers. Although I love Bird and Diz, Monk was THE one and only who was truly out there(and I mean that in a good way). He was decades ahead of other composers when it came to composition, improvisa-tions, and modern jazz theory. Bud Powell may have been the overall better technical player, but Monk lasts longer. Everyone who played in his groups studied him and what he was thinking. Of all the sax players, however, I think Charlie Rouse complemented him the best, although Coltrane's time with him was brilliant. If you like "Off Minor", then you were probably blown away by their colla-boration on "Trinkle, Tinkle", like I was.
Have you seen, "Straight No Chaser"? If you haven't, then you need to. It's a fascinating docu-mentary on his life, done by his friends, family, and fellow musicians, with life footage and behind the scenes.

[JimK]

Originally posted by BigWig Will
In my Jazz history class, I was the only person who really liked his stuff, everyone else thought it was kinda weird.

He could make any piano sound "out of tune".
Great composer...any genre, any era.

Miles, though, did not like the way Monk comped behind a soloist. To me, that was Miles' problem.


If you really like Monk, check out pianist Herbie Nichols...here's a guy who was every bit as gifted & tragic as Monk.

[BigWig Will]

Monk in Tokyo, I think, is his best quartet. It's got Charlie Rouse (you're right, great sax player and really works well with his music) Frankie Dunlop on drums,(probably my new fave drummer) and Butch Warren on bass (does anyone know any other recordings he played on?).

And I like 'Tinkle Tinkle' a lot, it is a great song, but 'Off Minor' just has this really infectious groove that I think only Monk could pull off.

[BigWig Will]

And JimK, Thanks for the reccommendation! I'll check it out.


Miles was always an intense person, I could see him and Monk clashing very easily.

[Peter McFerrin]

While you're off checking out Monk and Nichols, do remember to get some Andrew Hill, as well. Hill took much of Monk's approach and applied to it to an avant-garde context, and made some pretty fabulous albums in the process (most notably Point of Departure).

[JimK]

Pete-
I was gonna mention Hill, too.
Point Of Departure is a CLASSIC!
Black Fire is also quite good.

I'm glad I copped Mosaic Records Complete Andrew Hill Blue Note box while it was still available!

[JimK]

Originally posted by BigWig Will
Monk in Tokyo, I think, is his best quartet. It's got Charlie Rouse (you're right, great sax player and really works well with his music)...

Charlie Rouse(RIP) had a post-Monk 4-tet called Sphere(Monk's middle name)...Buster Williams on bass, Ben Riley on cans, & Kenny Barron on piano.
They were happenin', too!

[gruffpuppy]

Brilliant Corners w/ Pettiford and Chambers
Thelonious Monk & John Coltrane w/ Ware
Plays Duke Ellington w/ Pettiford
Thelonious Alone in San Francisco
Live at the It Club

Have to agree with Andrew Hill and will also add Don Pullen.

[Da_Niet]

Gurffpuppy,
if you like the small intimate Monk sessions, then try his 1954 release, "Monk plays Standards". It's got Pettiford AND Art Blakey. What a knockout CD. I love to hear Blakey break a change-up with his tightly pressed snare rolls.

[Da_Niet]

I'm sorry, I made a mistake about that Monk CD. It's actually called, "The Unique Thelonious Monk". Just listen for Pettiford's solo on, "Just You, Just Me". Right when he is wrapping it up, Blakey just does one of those inimitable drum press rolls. It is soooooo friggin' cool. The whole album is really a treat. And, it goes to show one how original he truly was.

[CJ_Marsicano]

I studied a bit of piano a couple of years ago (mainly to try and improve my reading and fingering chops), and Monk's solo piano CD's on Fantasy and Columbia were and are some of my favorite things to listen to as far as inspiration in that area goes, especially the version of "Ruby My Dear" on Solo Monk.

[Bruce Lindfield]

Shouldn't this be in DB - I've got quite a few recordings of Monk with Double Bass (etc.), but I don't think he ever made a recording with Bass Guitar on it?

[JimK]

(sigh)
No, it belongs here.
Maybe it's me, though...this about Recordings & music not what kinda ax was played.
Personally, I like hearing what people are checking out.
Personally, I think Big Willie gets more responses posting it here.

Agree with Gruffs-
Don Pullen is great(The Sixth Sense, Capricorn Rising, etc Mingus' Changes 1 and 2...).
I have been looking for an OOP trio album he did on Blue Note Records with Tony & Gary Peacock...darn, drawing a blank on the title(something about "Secret Agents/Espionage").
He also has a funky electric album; he's playing a Fender Rhodes...I'm drawing a blank on that title, too!

...it's early here, what can I say?

[Bruce Lindfield]

Maybe we sould have a combined forum for Recordings and Music?

I just think it's silly when people talk about Mingus, say, under Bass Guitar!!

I think that given the sheer amount of discussion, we really need a Jazz forum that is not "instrument-specific" !!

[BigWig Will]

Bruce... DBer's scare me. They're so BIG and nice looking and the people who play them always have suits, and combed back hair...and moustaches!!

As much as I love the sound of a Double Bass, I just don't know how you guys fit those things underneath your necks.

[JimK]

Originally posted by JimK
I have been looking for an OOP trio album he did on Blue Note Records with Tony & Gary Peacock...darn, drawing a blank on the title(something about "Secret Agents/Espionage").
He also has a funky electric album; he's playing a Fender Rhodes...I'm drawing a blank on that title, too!

The OOP Blue Note album is called New Beginnings...Pullen looks like a secret agent on the cover(I guess?).

The funky album WITH ELECTRIC BASS, Bruce is Tomorrow's Promises...this one can still be had; it's cheap, too!

[JimK]

Originally posted by Bruce Lindfield
I just think it's silly when people talk about Mingus, say, under Bass Guitar!!

FWIW-
I'm fine with that.
Mingus played an electric bass...once.

[gruffpuppy]

Originally posted by Da_Niet
"The Unique Thelonious Monk".

Hey thanks for the tip, I will put it on my wish list.

I must say that Monk really was a help for me getting into Jazz.
Once his choice of notes or "noise" sounded right alot of the music world opened up to my ears.

I also forgot to mention the disk "Thelonious Monk Trio" on my original list.

[peteroberts]

I love Monk...prolly my favorite all time jazz tune is 'Well, You Needn't'.

Live at the It Club, yeah.

Monk's Music...with Blakey!!! I love Blakey!!

Monk's Dream...mmmm.