jueves, 15 de octubre de 2009

Thelonious MONK - Monk's Blues 1968


Thelonious MONK - Monk's Blues 1968
Label: Columbia/Legacy

Jazz

I acquired the rather small Columbia Years box set of Monks work where they respond to the criticism of the album. At the time his Columbia output was being greeted by critics and fans alike for being too much of the same old thing. He debuted a few new tracks but never broke the same ground using new exciting musicians in his studio band, so in response to this he went to California and had Oliver Nelson set up a big band for him to play with. His live big band albums are truely classic and this album simply cant match the greatness of those two live masterpieces("At Town Hall" and "Big Bandl, Quartet Live"). This album was the last of his Columbia albums and it was attacked by everyone the minute it hit the shelves.
I can say I do enjoy this record. Even though it isnt up to the standard of the live albums he did in this vain it is still very good. I do recommend this album if you are a fan of big bands and Oliver Nelson and not if you are seasoned veteran of Monks music if you are willing to accept it as a change of pace and that it is and with its flaws it still can stand on its own two feet.
By Michael Salmestrelli.
**
Although nostalgia has allowed Monk's Blues to age more gracefully than perhaps the recording deserves, it remains an unfortunate fact that Thelonious Sphere Monk's final studio sessions were very poorly conceived. The idea of Monk performing with a big band was inspired nobly enough by the February '59 NYC Town Hall performance which was issued as Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall. These studio recordings fall far short of that classic live encounter. However there are a few brief moments of inspiration that are not overcome by random blasts from an over driven hollow sounding horn section. The challenge of arranging Monk for big band instrumentation fell upon Oliver Nelson, whose best remembered works include an array of television theme songs -- Ironside, Columbo and the Six Million Dollar Man among them. Many of the same techniques are likewise incorporated into the approach Nelson uses on Monk Blues. Perhaps it is cosmically fitting that the sessions were held at Columbia studios in tinsel town. There are a few write offs. "Rootie Tootie" is destroyed by an overwrought brass section which completely drowns Monk. "Consecutive Seconds" -- one of the two compositions penned by producer Teo Macero -- is simply abysmal. If this was an attempt to get Monk to play soul music it failed. It does succeed in sounding embarrassingly dated however. Thelonious' genius shines through on some of the more sensible and sensitive arrangements such as "Reflections", "Monk's Point" and the surprisingly tasteful "Brilliant Corners. The 1994 CD edition adds two performances not featured on the vinyl incarnation. "Blue Monk" features a stirring solo from Thelonious. "'Round Midnight" is a previously unissued solo side cut at the Monk's Blues sessions. The sheer brilliance in Monk's emotive and seemingly frustrated intonations may well be an exorcism for the sins of the rest of the album.
By Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide.
**
Thelonious Monk- Piano, Main Performer
Ernie Small- Saxophone, Sax (Baritone)
Ernie Watts- Saxophone, Sax (Alto)
Mike Wimberley- Trombone
Michael Wimberly- Trombone
Thomas Scott- Saxophone
Robert Brookmeyer- Trumpet
Ben Riley- Drums
Robert Bryant- Trumpet
Billy Byers- Trombone
John Guerin- Percussion, Drums
Freddie Hill- Trumpet
Howard Roberts- Guitar
Conte Candoli- Trumpet
Buddy Collette- Flute, Reeds (Multiple)
Larry Gales- Bass
Charlie Rouse- Saxophone, Sax (Tenor)
om Scott- Flute, Reeds (Multiple)
Lou Blackburn- Trombone
Bobby Bryant- Trumpet
** 
01. Let's Cool One 3.45
02. Reflections 4.36
03. Little Rootie Tootie 7.32
04. Just A Glance At Love 2.51
05. Brilliant Corners 3.52
06. Consecutive Seconds 2.40
07. Monk's Point 8.02
08. Trinkle Tinkle 4.58
09. Straight, No Chaser 7.18
10. Blue Monk 6.14
11. 'Round Midnight 4.13
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