Search - Thelonious Monk :: Blue Monk

Live Monk from the mid sixties

jazzfanmn | St Cloud, MN United States | 12/05/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album was recorded around 1964 at a live date in California. The personnel features Monk's quartet of the time consisting of the underrated Charlie Rouse on tenor, Larry Giles on bass, and Ben Riley on drums. This is a solid live date that features some spirited soloing from Rouse, (check out his solo on "Hackensack"), as well as Monk's classic off center sense of harmony, and his jagged, angular soloing ("Light Blue" is fine example). Gales and Riley each produce not only as rock solid rythm section but with their capable soloing throughout. As a unit the band is seamless, familiar with each other and the material. At times the sound quality suffers from source degredation and occational hissing and popping, but nothing too excessive. Overall this is a good live performance by Monk and his quartet, worth the investment in musical quality as well as quantity, (only "Ruby, My Dear" is under 10 minutes). A gem for Monk fans hungry for more."