Monk at Monterey --1964

[Larry Kart]

See that this has been mentioned before upon its release, but I don't see an estimate of its quality. Just got it, and I think it's top-drawer for Monk's Quartet -- this is the Ben Riley version, with Steve Swallow sitting in on bass at the last moment (he was on the bill with Art Farmer). Rouse and Monk are in very lively form, and Swallow's contribution is interesting -- he adds a different spring to the time feel. The last two tracks add a Buddy Collette-led ensemble and are quite effective -- Bobby Bryant solos with considerable boldness and zest, certainly unintimidated by Monk's presence, and Collette play a fine alto solo on "Straight, No Chaser." Only drawback is that the sound breaks up a bit at times, but I'm OK with it.

[jazzbo]

Fascinating release, as are most all that were released in this series.

[JSngry]

Bobby Bryant was a bold player in general!

How is Swallow with the changes, his voice-leading & the shape of his lines? Pretty linear or more angular?

[Larry Kart]

Bobby Bryant was a bold player in general!

How is Swallow with the changes, his voice-leading & the shape of his lines? Pretty linear or more angular?

More angular, pedal-pointy at times, but also a bit tentative at some points, as one might expect given that he was subbing on short notice. What I noticed as much as note choice was the springy time feel. If I'm not mistaken, Monk seemed to dig that, at least as a change of pace. Rouse, as I said above, also seems stimulated, but at times he pauses uncharacteristically, perhaps in response to Swallow not voice-leading in ways he's come to expect from I guess it would have been Larry Ridley at the time. In the notes, Swallow says that he later (early '70s?) was asked to join the group but had to refuse because he'd been playing electric bass exclusively and no longer owned a string bass.

[JSngry]

Sounds interesting. Monk is always good springy. Can't bounce off stuff if there's nothing to bounce off of, eh?

[mikeweil]

This one?

[jeffcrom]

That's one of my favorite Monk albums of the 1960's. Once he formed the quartet with Rouse, I liked that group best when there was one wild card in the deck, like Thad Jones on the 5 x Monk x 5 album, or Pee Wee Russell at Newport 1963. Steve Swallow was one of the best wild cards Monk encountered. He knows the music pretty well, but adds some wildness to the proceedings.

[Larry Kart]

This one?

yes

[Valeria Victrix]

Man, I got to get this! I love Swallow, and the thought of him with Monk is intriguing. The guy was probably still coming down off of the experience of playing in the Giuffre trio!

[jlhoots]

Bought a copy at a very reasonable price.

Enjoying it.

[mikeweil]

Okay, so this is the one I already have - got to give it a spin these days and report.

[paul secor]

More angular, pedal-pointy at times, but also a bit tentative at some points, as one might expect given that he was subbing on short notice. What I noticed as much as note choice was the springy time feel. If I'm not mistaken, Monk seemed to dig that, at least as a change of pace. Rouse, as I said above, also seems stimulated, but at times he pauses uncharacteristically, perhaps in response to Swallow not voice-leading in ways he's come to expect from I guess it would have been Larry Ridley at the time. In the notes, Swallow says that he later (early '70s?) was asked to join the group but had to refuse because he'd been playing electric bass exclusively and no longer owned a string bass.

I showed this thread to a musician friend of mine and he pointed out that you probably confused Larry Ridley with Larry Gales. According to Robin Kelley's bio, Gales was nursing an injured hand and Steve Swallow filled in for him. I believe that it was about four years later that Larry Ridley joined Monk's group.

[Larry Kart]

More angular, pedal-pointy at times, but also a bit tentative at some points, as one might expect given that he was subbing on short notice. What I noticed as much as note choice was the springy time feel. If I'm not mistaken, Monk seemed to dig that, at least as a change of pace. Rouse, as I said above, also seems stimulated, but at times he pauses uncharacteristically, perhaps in response to Swallow not voice-leading in ways he's come to expect from I guess it would have been Larry Ridley at the time. In the notes, Swallow says that he later (early '70s?) was asked to join the group but had to refuse because he'd been playing electric bass exclusively and no longer owned a string bass.

I showed this thread to a musician friend of mine and he pointed out that you probably confused Larry Ridley with Larry Gales. According to Robin Kelley's bio, Gales was nursing an injured hand and Steve Swallow filled in for him. I believe that it was about four years later that Larry Ridley joined Monk's group.

Right. But all us guys named Larry look the same.