Track Listing

1. Thelonious
2. Evidence
3. We See
4. Monk's Mood
5. Worry Later
6. Four in One
7. Reflections
8. In Walked Monk
9. Hackensack
10. Let's Cool One
11. Brilliant Corners
12. Brake's Sake
13. Ugly Beauty
14. Green Chimneys

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #148698 in Music
• Released on: 1999-05-18
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
On this 1994 recording, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and trombonist Wycliffe Gordon arrange the music of Thelonious Monk in a warm and witty neoclassic setting that typifies Marsalis's tradition-in-transition approach to jazz. Joining Marsalis and Gordon are drummer Herlin Riley, bassists Reginald Veal and Ben Wolfe, tenor saxophonists Walter Blanding and Victor Goines, Wess Anderson on alto and soprano sax, and pianist Eric Reed.

Monk's unconventionally structured blues and riff-based compositions are an important part of the jazz canon and Marsalis and company rise to the task of interpreting them. The 4/4 opener, "Thelonious," features a parade-style, stop-time intro with Anderson's ornithological, Charlie Parker-inspired tones, and Marsalis's burnished brass. The tap-dance feel of "Evidence" is maintained courtesy of the rhythm section, while the whimsical "We See" swings with Anderson's soprano sax and Reed's piano dancing on the melody. "Brake's Sake," "Green Chimneys," and "Worry Later" are solidly set in Riley's Congo Square-Latin-tinged drum work, Marsalis's laughing wah-wah sounds and clarion open horn solos, and Goines's towering tenor. A boppish horn line sets off "Four in One" and "Brilliant Corners" and is brilliantly decoded, while Marsalis's tune "In Walked Monk" (a play on Monk's "In Walked Bud") is reminiscent of Tadd Dameron's ensemble sound. The ballads include the dirgelike "Monk's Mood," with Marsalis's hazy mute, and the twilight-toned "Reflections." On "Ugly Beauty" Marsalis duets with Reed, who throughout this recording synthesizes Monk's dark tonal clusters and stride-piano techniques into his own fleet-fingered keyboard conception. --Eugene Holley Jr.

Customer Reviews

Good effort with a couple of gems
This CD is aptly titled in that it's Wynton's take (with the help of Wycliffe Gordon) on Monk --a commentary on the music. Nothing replaces the original, of course, but these are for the most part, strong interpretations of the music by Wynton and his well-known bandmates of the mid-'90s.

For a tribute CD to succeed completely, it has to find real wellsprings of inspiration that put a completely personal stamp on the original music, and "Marsalis on Monk" doesn't quite make that level. In fact, for a good comparison with this CD, check out altoist/flutist James Spaulding's "Brilliant Corners," which in my opinion is just a notch better than this in revisiting and reformulating Monk's work.

The music here is never stale, but many of the cuts strike me as simply very well-played covers of well-known Monk tunes. There are two notable exceptions, however. "Four in One," one of Monk's most challenging pieces is super-charged with energy, and Wynton tears off a brilliant solo near the end. I immediately hit the repeat button after I heard it for the first time. "Green Chimneys" is a terrific set closer, full of authoritative solos and rich group playing that puts to rest the notion that Monk's music can't swing.

I'd also give high marks to Wynton for the choice of material, which includes some infrequently heard minor gems, such as "Let's Cool One," "Reflections," and "Ugly Beauty."

This isn't Marsalis's best album and it isn't the best collection of Monk interpretations, but it easily delivers enough of the goods to make it a solid thumbs up.

Monk minus Monk = this album
This album is Monk if you subtract everything that made him a true, quirky-but-methodical original, and the greatest jazz composer ever (or at least tied with Duke for the title). No edges, no grit, no shards...no "brilliant corners", you might say. To be fair, this sort of middling approach may have value to some listeners, and perhaps it will turn someone on to the originals, so perhaps it is not a total waste. At any rate, it's hard for these ears to take.

Why not buy a Steve Lacy record instead?

Great Jazz?
I love Monk to death and am always exicited when I see/hear someone playing Monks Music. He is simply one of the greatest composers ever, period! He had more imagination and creativity in his writing and playing than anyone else, no discussion needed. Having said that I was disappointed in this CD (unforunately). I always thought Wynton needed to loosen up on his jazz playing and had hoped that in playing Monk's compositons he would be able to do that. Even though he was exposed to Jazz at an early age it almost seems like he learned his classical musicianship too well as he seems like a classical musician playing jazz. It just misses being great jazz. My feeling is why listen to almost great jazz when there is so much great jazz around that you can listened to. I also thought some of the horns tone and overall sound were a little bright sounding and didn't have the richness it needed for Monks music. I am not sure if this is a recording issue or playing issue. As always though he has a great rhythm section behind him. I have heard a liitle of his live CD's at the Village Vanguard and have liked what I have heard and will be buying that. Maybe he just needs to record his jazz live only.