Jazz Articles about Charlie Rouse

About Charlie Rouse

Album Review

Thelonious Monk: Live In Paris, 1967. Volume Two

Read "Live In Paris, 1967. Volume Two" reviewed by Jack Kenny

by Jack Kenny
October 15, 2026

This is magnificent music: an important document of a unique European tour that places Thelonious Monk in a different context from his regular quartet with Charlie Rouse. While many unauthorised recordings of the nonet (the nine piece) circulated over the decades, this official release offers a uniquely clear and authoritative record of this aspect of Monk's work.In 1967, George Wein presented six Monk concerts in Europe and was determined to break the routine of the quartet format. Wein ...

Album Review

Thelonious Monk: Monk Live In Paris 1967 Volume One

Read "Monk Live In Paris 1967 Volume One" reviewed by Jack Kenny

by Jack Kenny
July 31, 2026

This Paris concert formed part of a European tour organized by the impresario George Wein, who had previously presented numerous Thelonious Monk Quartet engagements. Seeking something different, Wein proposed an expanded ensemble. Monk was initially reluctant to depart from the quartet format and only agreed after considerable persuasion. Crucially, he retained artistic control: he selected the additional musicians himself and insisted on using Hall Overton's arrangements, familiar from the earlier concerts Town Hall (Riverside 1959) and Philharmonic Hall (Columbia 1964). ...

Album Review

Thelonious Monk: Live In Paris 1967 Volume One

Read "Live In Paris 1967 Volume One" reviewed by Joshua Weiner

by Joshua Weiner
June 14, 2026

The discography of Thelonious Monk, bebop architect, composer of enduring standards and idiosyncratically influential pianist, is vast. In addition to Monk's genre-defining studio recordings, several live sets were released during his lifetime, including a notable series put out by Columbia Records during Monk's time on that most major of major labels, from 1962 to 1968. Live In Paris 1967 (Volume One) is a notable addition for several reasons: it is the first official release of material by the Monk Estate ...

Album Review

Charlie Rouse: Cinnamon Flower: The Expanded Version

Read "Cinnamon Flower: The Expanded Version" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi

by Angelo Leonardi
March 20, 2026

Il decennale sodalizio con Thelonious Monk ha dato ampia notorietà a Charlie Rouse ma ne ha anche oscurato l'immagine e le potenzialità che aveva espresso negli anni cinquanta (quando suonò nelle orchestre di Duke Ellington e Count Basie, si unì al quintetto di Bennie Green e fondò con Julius Watkins i Jazz Modes). Dopo aver lasciato Monk nel 1970, Rouse lavorò per un decennio come freelance realizzando cose diverse per rientrare nel decennio successivo nell'orbita monkiana (senza più Monk, deceduto) nel gruppo ...

Album Review

Thelonious Monk: Bremen 1965

Read "Bremen 1965" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
December 5, 2025

The first official release of the Bremen concert, carefully remastered from the original tapes, is more than just an archival curiosity; it is a revelation. Recorded on an evening characterized by generous tempos and a relaxed exchange, Bremen 1965 reaffirms Thelonious Monk and his experienced quartet as they pay their most fundamental tributes: the uneven poetry of his time, the crystalline bite of Charlie Rouse's tenor saxophone, the steady ballast of Larry Gales's bass, and Ben Riley's propulsive subtleties on ...

Album Review

Charlie Rouse: Cinnamon Flower : The Expanded Version

Read "Cinnamon Flower : The Expanded Version" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
September 19, 2025

Cinnamon Flower: The Expanded Edition is a reissue of The Charlie Rouse Band's 1977 Brazilian-inspired album originally released by Douglas Records. Now, nearly 50 years later, Resonance Records presents a deluxe, definitive edition of the album featuring previously unreleased versions of the songs from the original release. Recorded during a prolific period in Rouse's post-Thelonious Monk career, this project reveals a rarely heard side of the tenor saxophonist: a rhythmic sensuality and melodic elegance inspired by Brazil's vibrant music scene. ...

Album Review

Clifford Jordan: Drink Plenty Water

Read "Drink Plenty Water" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
October 28, 2023

Clifford Jordan, the iconic American jazz tenor saxophonist, has left an indelible mark on the world of jazz. Known for his dynamic playing style and innovative compositions, his album Drink Plenty Water and Walk Slow is a testament to his unparalleled musical prowess. The original album was recorded in 1974 for Strata-East as an LP but did not make it to the catalogue during this period. However, his wife, Sandy Jordan, unearthed this gem, which was remastered for presentation in ...