"Bemsha Swing" - what does the title mean?

[Bruce Lindfield]

OK - so we were playing this Monk tune last week and somebody said what does the title mean, or to what is it referring?

Somebody else said - look it up on the internet - you can find anything there!!

Well, I've searched as much as I can - but no joy - although I never knew there were so many sites devoted to Monk!!

So - anybody know - was there a place or club (etc.) called "Bemsha" or is it just a made-up word?

[Bruce Lindfield]

So... no Thelonious Monk experts out there... ?

[Alexi David]

I went fishing around, found nothing so far. Interesting question, I'd like to know too.....

[Damon Rondeau]

I've done some fishing too, including thumbing through the Gourse Monk bio -- nada. Found an old thread on a jazz nerd board where this very question was asked and the folks came up with nothing.

I'm thinking it's the nickname of a person or place.

Where does Monk come up with words like crepuscule? Epistrophy? Always the playful genius.

[Bruce Lindfield]

I suppose these things will remain mysteries then, as there probably aren't too many people around who can further add to our knowledge of Monk ...mostly passed away?

[Alexi David]

Originally Posted by Damon Rondeau

I've done some fishing too, including thumbing through the Gourse Monk bio -- nada. Found an old thread on a jazz nerd board where this very question was asked and the folks came up with nothing.

I'm thinking it's the nickname of a person or place.

Where does Monk come up with words like crepuscule? Epistrophy? Always the playful genius.

I know, "crepuscule"!!. Means "twilight". One of my favorite compositions

"Epistrophy" is a greek word. Epi-stro-PHY. It means "return", as in to "return" from a trip.

[Damon Rondeau]

Originally Posted by Alexi David

I know, "crepuscule"!!. Means "twilight".

...twilight meaning either in the evening or at dawn. Deer are crepuscular in their feeding, for example. They're out there when the light is changing. Or, after a blistering night of drinking and you find yourself hung over and searching for pain killers in the dawn's early light, you are having a crapulous crepuscule.

[dhadleyray]

I was working with some guys from Transylvania, and they knew what it meant. Unfortunately, I've forgotten! Oops, Doh! I do think it could be Balkan in origin. Just speculating..