The most identifiable jazz composer

[Hardbopjazz]

Whenever I hear a Monk composition play by someone, I right away knows it’s a Monk tune. I can't think of anyone else that can be identified so easily. Can you think of anyone else?

Edited March 23, 2004 by Hardbopjazz

[sal]

I've always found Herbie Hancock's compositions to be immediately recognizable.

[couw]

Monk, although I rarely have a clue WHICH tune it is exactly.

[Alexander Hawkins]

I think Monk is the most obvious one to me.

Eric Dolphy as well.

It's difficult. Are we talking recognising the changes during solos? I could pick Monk then. If we're talking hearing the melody, perhaps Ellington? I don't know.

A really interesting question, though - I'm interested to see what people say! For example, I don't think I'd get Herbie Hancock compositions necessarily.

[mgraham333]

I agree

with Hardbopjazz - I've gotten pretty good at spotting Monk's tunes.

with Sal - Hancock's music has a fairly distinct flavor (even across genres - straight ahead jazz, funk, etc.) although I have been known to confuse a Hankcock tune with one from Wayne Shorter.

After exposure to Bobby Timmons - This Here Is Bobb Timmons, I could spot his stuff fairly consistently.

[DTMX]

Ornette Coleman - strong, recognizable themes (Ornettian themes, if you will). Same with Monk's themes.

[7/4]

Oh yez, Ornette!

[tonym]

Zawinul. Usually quite easy to pick out.

[RDK]

Monk, easily.

The funny thing about Ornette - and I know his would be considered sacriledge to many here - is that I usually like his compositions better when played by other people...

[doubleM]

How'z bout Wayne Shorter, or Herbie Nichols? or Trane?

[Rooster_Ties]

Depending on the tune, Sun Ra.

[Spontooneous]

Strayhorn. Tadd Dameron.

[Leeway]

Monk for sure. Mingus is usually distinctive also.

[Pete C]

If anybody else did play their compositions--Grachan Moncur III & Henry Threadgill. Booker Little too.

How come nobody ever does those Moncur tunes?

[Guy Berger]

Horace Silver

[Rooster_Ties]

How come nobody ever does those Moncur tunes?

Good question. Afraid I know the answer -- too obscure.

[kenny weir]

I've heard lots of Monk covers that I'd be hard-pressed to pick as being written by him. Same with a lot of the folks mentioned so far.

I'd vote for Ellington, especially the later stuff. Not that the longer suites have been covered much anyway, but the compositions - and in this case I'm embracing the players, the arrangements, everything, as every aspect seems vitally part of the music and interdepedent - are instantly identifiable.

[LAL]

Another vote for Ellington and Billy Strayhorn!!

What about George Russell?

[Morganized]

Monk, although I rarely have a clue WHICH tune it is exactly.

Posted on Mar 23 2004, 09:18 PM

  Horace Silver 

I would have to agree here. Monk and Silver......

[BeBop]

Neal Hefti

[Swinger]

Misha Mengelberg.

No matter what he compose,they always sound fantastic to my ears.

Saw/heard him live in my hometown 3 years ago with Han Bennink and some bass player whose name I've forgot already.

I was grinning throughout their performance. I was a happy man in the next few hours.

[king ubu]

Tadd Dameron

Monk (in the couw-boat as far as finding out the names of the tunes, though)

Mingus

[A Lark Ascending]

Ellington and Monk clearly.

But how about Kenny Wheeler!

[clifford_thornton]

Monk, Lacy, Dolphy, and to quote AMG, "Traditional."

[Leeway]

I can almost always tell that it's a Monk tune, at least the better-known ones; however, I can'tt always put the title to the tune. But I did win tickets on a radio call-in contest once on the local jazz station (WPFW) by correctly identifying Monk's "Ruby, My Dear"