Guy Berger Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 (edited) I'm trying to pay more attention to Monk's playing these days, and was wondering what your favorite Monk playing/improvisations are? Individual tracks, not albums. (We all know his compositions are great.) For starters, how about the version of "The Man I Love" from Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants where Monk starts out his solo by playing the melody at half-time (relative to the rhythm section), stops in the middle, and then after a nudge from Miles, he finishes with an incredibly inspired run of ideas. I'm looking forward to listening to your recommendations. Guy ps Bonus: If there are any tracks that you feel feature unusually inspired comping by Monk, include them as well! Edited February 27, 2007 by Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 "Little Rootie Tootie" & "Work", both on Prestige. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 For starters - Misterioso (1948 BN) and The Man I Love (1954 Prestige). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundog Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 A couple that come to mind immediately. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) from Monk Plays Ellington Ellington's songs are really well suited to varied interpretations including Monk's. One of my all time favorites. Needs no explanation to appreciate. Rhythm-A-Ning from Monk In Paris Extremely twisted solo, and I mean that in the best possible way. Nice arc to the overall solo, starts busy with a lot of forward motion and gradually becomes more sparse and stripped down, with just a few jabs at chords. Ends with a forceful thump of a chord which sounds like a door slamming. When your done, your done right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spontooneous Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 An absolutely archetypal solo on "Well You Needn't" on "Live at the It Club." A lot of the playing on "Live in Tokyo." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 "Little Rootie Tootie" ... on Prestige. Not ready to swear it's my favorite, but I loved it the first time I heard it and every time since; never loses its freshness. The Prestige "Blue Monk" is damn good too. And "These Foolish Things" is just nutty -- what a great choice of tempo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free For All Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Solo version of "Tea For Two". Really great stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Current favorites: 'Crepuscule With Nellie' (from 'Monk's Music') 'I Love You'(Sweetheart of All My Dreams) (from 'Monk' on Columbia) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 (edited) Always been a big fan of his trio version of 'It Don't Mean A Thing..'. A totally new perspective on that well worn classic ! Edited February 27, 2007 by sidewinder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 (edited) Any of the big band tracks on Big Band and Quartet in Concert - both solos (sometimes he almost leaps forward aurally to start his solo) and comping - and where he lays out, which is an important part of his comping. Edited February 27, 2007 by mikeweil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 I've just been playing Monk and the Jazz Messengers, that takes some beating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Goren. Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 If you are talking about Individual tracks and you really like "The Man I Love", you must listen to his solo recordings from 1971 in London. My favorite version of this composition. If I remember correctly, you can find it on Volume 3 of this 3 CDs set (Black Lion). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stereojack Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 I'll third "Little Rootie Tootie". I also love "Lulu's Back In Town" on It's Monk's Time, and "Black and Tan Fantasy" on Monk Plays Ellington. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 I'm with Jack especially on Lulu! Also, almost all the Blue Note material I've come to see as fantastic start to finish; I'm with Chuck on loving Misterioso and I love many other performances there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jostber Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 (edited) I have many favourites with these on my list right now: Monk's mood (Blue Note) Dinah (Solo Monk) Round Midnight (Monk's Blues) In Orbit (In Orbit) Sophisticated Lady (Plays Duke Ellington) Darkness on the Delta (Big Band) Edited February 27, 2007 by jostber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Dolan Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Count me as another who's a big fan of Lulu's Back In Town! I would say my all time favorite is Functional from the album Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane. What an unbelievable tune!! And it's nice to see some of his Columbia work being mentioned here. Some folks seem to dismiss that period far to easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 The way Monk soloed on Rhythm A Ning was really a trip. Monk must of liked what he was doing himself, as he repeated the same approach at many different concerts. I listened to the 1961 Stockholm concert not long ago, and was epecially struck (again) by Monk's solo on Jackie-ing. Monk could play incredible solos on anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gslade Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 I'm thinking Ugly Beauty (cant rememeber the take) on underground, one of the takes really struck me as very cool. It hard to say a favorite as I love just about everything mentioned (and many others not) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Dolan Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 And not necessarily for the solo, but the theme of Ruby, My Dear has always been one of my favorites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Hawkins Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 I love his comping on 'Friday 13th' with Rollins and Julius Watkins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ep1str0phy Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 (edited) As someone who was introduced to Monk through his Columbia recordings, I have a few favorites of that later vintage... the "master" solo takes of Ruby, My Dear and Round Midnight are a big reason why I'm in this music. Also, count me as a fan of Live at the It Club and Underground. And then there's Straight, No Chaser, which few people seem to like, but which I feel contains some of his strongest studio work in later years (his comping/articulation behind Charlie Rouse on "Locomotive" is unbelievable). Edited February 27, 2007 by ep1str0phy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Tapscott Posted February 28, 2007 Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 (edited) Never having seen Monk play I am particularly fascinated by his playing on the recent Jazz Icons DVD. Somehow it's given me a whole new appreciation of his playing. (Not that I didn't enjoy it before but this is priceless!) Edited February 28, 2007 by John Tapscott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Brown Posted February 28, 2007 Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 Smoke Gets in Your Eyes has always knocked me out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Brown Posted February 28, 2007 Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 Smoke Gets in Your Eyes has always knocked me out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Dolan Posted February 28, 2007 Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 (edited) Never having seen Monk play I am particularly fascinated by his playing on the recent Jazz Icons DVD. Somehow it's given me a whole new appreciation of his playing. (Not that I didn't enjoy it before but this is priceless!) When I type on the keyboard I resemble Monk quite a bit. Fingers a flyin, elbows all over the place, hesitation, adamant outburst of strange words..... Edited February 28, 2007 by Scott Dolan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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