Charlie Rouse

[bluemonk]

Charlie Rouse is the reason I love the Columbia era so much. Not that I don't like the Bluenote and Prestige sides, but I really like the "band" sound of the Columbia records.

And I love that Epic album Yeah! by Rouse. I picked that up around 1996 or '97 when Classic reissued it and was not disappointed.

I don't think I could listen to "Locomotive" the opening song on Monk's "Straight, No Chaser" record without Rouse. I mean can anyone listen to "Ugly Beauty" without Rouse? I know I couldn't.

Many people say Monk's best record is "Brilliant Corners," while it's hard to argue with that, there's just something more personal, for me anyway, about "Straight, No Chaser" and "Underground." What do you guys think?

Edited May 16, 2008 by bluemonk

[BruceH]

Charlie Rouse with Sahib Shihab, "Soul Mates," on Uptown, at Rudy VanG's 1988. One of his best...

Whenever I hear about Rouse's "limitations" I wonder: Am I just too damn numb to hear the flaws in his playing, or does he bring some extra magic to the table that more than makes up for them? Damned if I know. But I like him. I like him with Monk, and also with Clark, Louis Smith, and a bunch of others; I also like his own albums. (Maybe I'm easily pleased.)

[JSngry]

Honestly, Straight No Chaser is my least favorite Monk record of all.

No, Monk's Blues is. But that was a "project", so...

But Straight No Chaser never gets started for me. It jsut sits there and stays there, and more than once I'v ejust gotten up and left the room before it was over.

But that's just me. Different strokes and all that, I guess.

[bluemonk]

Honestly, Straight No Chaser is my least favorite Monk record of all.

No, Monk's Blues is. But that was a "project", so...

But Straight No Chaser never gets started for me. It jsut sits there and stays there, and more than once I'v ejust gotten up and left the room before it was over.

But that's just me. Different strokes and all that, I guess.

Yeah, you know I like all of Monk's records for different reasons. Sometimes it's hard to get into the groove, but I really did like "Straight, No Chaser." I thought Rouse's playing, in particular, was really good.

Monk did a record with Gigi Gryce that was released under the name "Nica's Tempo," which was half big band, half quartet. I really liked this album a lot, because it showed Monk in a sideman role, which is something he didn't do much of. Clark Terry's "In Orbit" in another favorite.

Have you heard these JSngry? What did you think about "Monk's Music"? I thought that was one of Monk's best 50s studio efforts.

[bluemonk]

Charlie Rouse with Sahib Shihab, "Soul Mates," on Uptown, at Rudy VanG's 1988. One of his best...

Whenever I hear about Rouse's "limitations" I wonder: Am I just too damn numb to hear the flaws in his playing, or does he bring some extra magic to the table that more than makes up for them? Damned if I know. But I like him. I like him with Monk, and also with Clark, Louis Smith, and a bunch of others; I also like his own albums. (Maybe I'm easily pleased.)

I'm ashamed that I haven't really checked out any of Rouse's solo recordings, but I think I will now. Thanks Bruce.

[Chalupa]

My problem with Rouse has little to do with what he plays(or doesn't play for that matter). My problem is I can't stand his tone. I find it really annoying.

Edited May 16, 2008 by J.H. Deeley

[AllenLowe]

rouse sucks he really do

[JSngry]

Honestly, Straight No Chaser is my least favorite Monk record of all.

No, Monk's Blues is. But that was a "project", so...

But Straight No Chaser never gets started for me. It jsut sits there and stays there, and more than once I'v ejust gotten up and left the room before it was over.

But that's just me. Different strokes and all that, I guess.

Yeah, you know I like all of Monk's records for different reasons. Sometimes it's hard to get into the groove, but I really did like "Straight, No Chaser." I thought Rouse's playing, in particular, was really good.

Monk did a record with Gigi Gryce that was released under the name "Nica's Tempo," which was half big band, half quartet. I really liked this album a lot, because it showed Monk in a sideman role, which is something he didn't do much of. Clark Terry's "In Orbit" in another favorite.

Have you heard these JSngry? What did you think about "Monk's Music"? I thought that was one of Monk's best 50s studio efforts.

Yeah, I've heard those. I've heard a fair amount of Monk.

Truthfully, once you get past the "definitive" Blue Note, Prestige, Monk's Music/Brilliant Corners canon, I'm not so sure that I don't come back to 5 By Monk by 5 about as much as anything. That was Rouse's first side with Monk, he sounded waaay fresh in it, and Thad, hey, Thad was every bot as quirky as Monk, and they fit together quite nicely, I think. Sam Jones, as well, always a pleasure.

And ig there's been a better version of "Jackie-ing" than the one heard there, I've not heard it, at least not for my taste.

[bluemonk]

Honestly, Straight No Chaser is my least favorite Monk record of all.

No, Monk's Blues is. But that was a "project", so...

But Straight No Chaser never gets started for me. It jsut sits there and stays there, and more than once I'v ejust gotten up and left the room before it was over.

But that's just me. Different strokes and all that, I guess.

Yeah, you know I like all of Monk's records for different reasons. Sometimes it's hard to get into the groove, but I really did like "Straight, No Chaser." I thought Rouse's playing, in particular, was really good.

Monk did a record with Gigi Gryce that was released under the name "Nica's Tempo," which was half big band, half quartet. I really liked this album a lot, because it showed Monk in a sideman role, which is something he didn't do much of. Clark Terry's "In Orbit" in another favorite.

Have you heard these JSngry? What did you think about "Monk's Music"? I thought that was one of Monk's best 50s studio efforts.

Yeah, I've heard those. I've heard a fair amount of Monk.

Truthfully, once you get past the "definitive" Blue Note, Prestige, Monk's Music/Brilliant Corners canon, I'm not so sure that I don't come back to 5 By Monk by 5 about as much as anything. That was Rouse's first side with Monk, he sounded waaay fresh in it, and Thad, hey, Thad was every bot as quirky as Monk, and they fit together quite nicely, I think. Sam Jones, as well, always a pleasure.

And ig there's been a better version of "Jackie-ing" than the one heard there, I've not heard it, at least not for my taste.

I liked "The Unique Thelonious Monk" a lot and all his albums on Prestige and Blue Note were just brilliant. His Riverside recordings were all really good, but it's like I said, I don't think I own an album by Monk that I didn't like.

I also liked "Thelonious Monk Orchestra At Town Hall" that was different album for him.

Yes, "5 By 5 By Monk" was a great record too. I haven't listened to that in quite some time, but I do remember it being quite good.

Edited May 16, 2008 by bluemonk

[paul secor]

rouse sucks he really do

A truly intelligent comment.

Looking for a sarcastic smiley, but can't find one that's sarcastic enough.

[jazzbo]

Monk did a record with Gigi Gryce that was released under the name "Nica's Tempo," which was half big band, half quartet.

Monk only appears on the quartet session of this lp, correct?

[bluemonk]

Monk did a record with Gigi Gryce that was released under the name "Nica's Tempo," which was half big band, half quartet.

Monk only appears on the quartet session of this lp, correct?

That is correct. It was released on the Savoy Jazz label.

[jazzbo]

Yes, I have it. . . .The second side is nice as well, "Social Call" always pleases.

[Chuck Nessa]

Anyone looking for Rouse leader dates could do worse than the two Uptown dates available from me for $15 each ($25 for the pair), postpaid in North America. As usual, reduced postage elsewhere.

[bluemonk]

Yes, I have it. . . .The second side is nice as well, "Social Call" always pleases.

Yeah, you know, it's shame that not many people are familiar with Gigi Gryce, because he was fine alto saxophonist and composer. Then again, he wasn't on the scene for very long, which may explain not many people knowing about him. He led several groups, but I think he's probably most known for his work in Art Farmer's quintet, which produced such classics as "When Farmer Met Gryce" and the follow-up "The Art Farmer Quintet."

Gryce changed his name to Basheer Qusim and quit playing in the early 60s and became a public school teacher. I always thought Gryce was a very enigmatic and mysterious person. I mean not really much is known about him other than the few recordings he did as a leader and the ones he sessioned on.

Edited May 17, 2008 by bluemonk

[bluemonk]

Some other recordings by Gryce to check out:

[paul secor]

Anyone looking for Rouse leader dates could do worse than the two Uptown dates available from me for $15 each ($25 for the pair), postpaid in North America. As usual, reduced postage elsewhere.

I highly recommend the Rouse-Rodney Social Call CD - very fine Rouse and Rodney - probably the best later Rodney I've heard.

[Dan Gould]

completely agree with Paul.

[JSngry]

"Social Call" always pleases.

That is a tune I really should start learning.

[AllenLowe]

no like Rouse - but recommend buy stuff from Nessa -

[BruceH]

Anyone looking for Rouse leader dates could do worse than the two Uptown dates available from me for $15 each ($25 for the pair), postpaid in North America. As usual, reduced postage elsewhere.

Social Call is quite good, but Soul Mates is a classic.

[AllenLowe]

Rouse play like he got sharp object up his butt, causing airway constriction -

[Elissa]

Though a little late to catch him with Monk I did see Rouse with Sphere one night at the Vanguard - I think I was 15? Riley, Williams, Barron and Rouse was it? They did the most amazing unexpected improvisations and restructurings of Monk tunes, it really blew my little mind that all of those wonderful tunes would be heard and played so differently... then I saw Sphere once after Rouse's death and most of that had gone, though of course I loved Gary Bartz, a musician all his own, they just sounded to be playing more Monkish Monk tunes. Or do I have those two gigs flipped...?

There was a really pretty record with the four of them looking a little silly in ascots on the cover - I remember the cool kids in college making fun of me for listening to albums with 4 old black dudes in ascots on the cover. Ha ha.

Edited May 17, 2008 by Elissa

[kh1958]

Though a little late to catch him with Monk I did see Rouse with Sphere one night at the Vanguard - I think I was 15? Riley, Williams, Barron and Rouse was it? They did the most amazing unexpected improvisations and restructurings of Monk tunes, it really blew my little mind that all of those wonderful tunes would be heard and played so differently... then I saw Sphere once after Rouse's death and most of that had gone, though of course I loved Gary Bartz, a musician all his own, they just sounded to be playing more Monkish Monk tunes. Or do I have those two gigs flipped...?

There was a really pretty record with the four of them looking a little silly in ascots on the cover - I remember the cool kids in college making fun of me for listening to albums with 4 old black dudes in ascots on the cover. Ha ha.

I saw Sphere at the Caravan of Dreams in 1985--the Rouse, Barron, Williams, Riley edition. As I recall, they played mostly their own compositions. Rouse (the whole group) sounded terrific, but attendance for the concert was pitiful.

Edited May 17, 2008 by kh1958

[BruceH]

Rouse play like he got sharp object up his butt, causing airway constriction -

He did have a "rough" tone, no doubt about it. Allen, you're sounding like the Hulk there. Old comic book gamma-ray accident acting up?