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Greg Lewis / Organ Monk: Uwo in the Black
ByWell schooled on piano, Lewis studied with the likes of Charles Mingus' pianist Jaki Byard and Miles Davis' early sideman Gil Coggins, who reportedly nicknamed him "Thelonious Hunk" for his deep knowledge of the legendary composer. Raised listening to gospel and Afro American music, Lewis brings his background to shape Monk into his own style. He rounds off Monk's jagged lines with the fuller-sounding organ, breathing new life into these unique compositions.
"Little Rootie Tootie" leads off, the infectious ditty a real hooker, starting slowly, it builds relentlessly until on organ, "all stops are out." Along the way, comes a fleet-fingered guitar solo and a masterly tenor passage. The rest of the selections have a tough time living up to thisbut do. Lewis' composition, "In the BlackMy Nephew," starts with a sax dirge which gives way to a wall of sound, organ on top, supported by a heavy drum ballast. "Bright Mississippi," is Monk's acid-etched look at the South. Written in 1962, the date of University of Mississippi racial demonstrations, the organ treatment projects a false jauntiness, seemingly taunting the Establishment. Monk's seldom heard, "Skippy" evokes the ups and downs on a roller coaster, as the drums heavily stir the carnival atmosphere, and soon admit the guitar for a solo turn. On "Thelonious," drums and organ duet, hand-in-hand for a swinging jog, cymbals and snares leading the repetitive, mesmerizing pace.
Based on this second edition of the trilogy, the third and final part is highly anticipated.
Track Listing
Little Rootie Tootie; In The Black – My Nephew; Humph; Skippy; Ugly Beauty; Zion's Walk; GCP; Stuffy Turkey; Bright Mississippi; Thelonious; Why Not; Crepuscule With Nellie; Teo; 52nd Street Theme.
Personnel
Album information
Title: Uwo in the Black | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Self Produced
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