Monk Quartet and Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers London April 1960.

[Hardbopjazz]

In April 1960 both Monk and Blakey were in London with their bands. Anyone here at these shows? This is what I found. So the concert started at 6 PM. How many sets would be played in the night?

 

Edited February 12, 2018 by Hardbopjazz

[JohnS]

I'm pretty sure I never made this concert. I can't think why, I didn't miss much back then. 

[BillF]

It was in April 1961, not 1960, and I was there at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester. There were only two sets, Blakey on first, Monk second. Even then, it was difficult to get Monk out on stage.

Edited February 12, 2018 by BillF

[Hardbopjazz]

1961? The article below is stating it was 1960.

On 29April 1960 Thelonious Monk and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers took to the stage for a sell out show at London’s Festival Hall on the south bank of the Thames. This  was Monk’s first appearance in the UK. With top ticket prices at £1 it seems remarkably inexpensive, but the average weekly wage back then was under £19 per week.

According to The Guardian newspaper, “Monk’s appearance on the stage maintained his reputation for eccentricity, a soft cap perched on his head, a tweed suit that appeared to have travelled from New York the hard way, and brogues that had that Brand X look. At intervals he meandered slightly loopily around the stage while his bassist, John Orr, pounded away at chordal progressions on another planet”

https://thejazzword.wordpress.com/2014/03/05/monk-and-the-jazz-messengers-in-london-1960/

[Niko]

"Saturday 29 April" clearly places the announcement in 1961, not 1960. This is line with the detailed Monk chronology in Robin Kelley's book and with dozens of articles you can find in the National Jazz Archive such as this one:

https://archive.nationaljazzarchive.co.uk/archive/journals/jazz-news/volume5-no14/159061-jazz-news-volume5-no14-0010?q=monk+blakey

 

[BillF]

Yes, Robin Kelley got the year right, but IIRC said that Monk's extreme delay in appearing on stage occurred in Milan. It happened on that tour, but in Manchester. After a long wait, an embarrassed-looking John Ore came out and played a bass solo. He went off stage, only to return and play another solo. Eventually Monk appeared and things got going. It's a while since I read Kelley, but IIRC he says that George Wein was backstage trying to urge the reluctant Thelonious.

Edited February 12, 2018 by BillF

[Niko]

Here is a set list for the Monk concert from a review which you can compare with your tape: Jackieing, Crepuscule with Nellie, Straight No Chaser, Rhythm-A-Ning, Epistrophy, Well you needn't and Body and Soul. (In that text, you also find the five tunes for the Blakey part)

[king ubu]

Also listed here (in 1961):

http://www.jazzdiscography.com/Artists/Blakey/chron.htm

[Cyril]

On ‎12‎-‎2‎-‎2018 at 9:48 AM, BillF said:

It was in April 1961, not 1960, and I was there at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester. There were only two sets, Blakey on first, Monk second. Even then, it was difficult to get Monk out on stage.

 In 1961 Monk made his first European tour !!!

 

April 1961. Night Concert at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam.

He produced also a series of live recordings.

Edited February 13, 2018 by Cyril

[Chuck Nessa]

Maybe not an a "European tour" but he was in Paris in '54.  Just don't want confusion.

[Cyril]

He was in Bern: https://www.discogs.com/Thelonious-Monk-Quartet-1961-European-Tour-Vol-1/release/2977757

And in Copenhagen.