Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Thelonious Monk: Monk in Tokyo
Thelonious Monk: Monk in Tokyo
By"Live in Tokyo" features an edition of the Monk Quartet (with Butch Warren- b, Frankie Dunlop- d) on display for the very first time in Japan. 1963 was in fact the first year Monk toured Japan, which of course has become a veritable motherlode of Monk devotees ever since. For whatever reason, Monk's music is extremely appealing to Japanese sensibilities; maybe they GET it a little more than the rest of us. Or maybe Monk was Japanese in a former lifetime. "Thelonious-san?"
In any event, this is fine live Monk that is on par with the fantastic Live at the It Club. Beginning on the first disc, there is a nearly 10-minute version of Monk's staple driving tune: "Straight, No Chaser". This gives way to his solo piano rendition of the popular song "Just A Gigolo", done stridingly and of course- with ample cheekiness. Lesser heard "Jackie-ing" is also in the fold on the first disc.
On the second disc (still Tokyo set), the tunes are "I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You," "Hackensack, Blue Monk, and Epistrophy. There are fine and lengthy quartet outings on all three of the latter tunes.
All in all, this is Live Monk delivered with a true Monkian zest and it should be acquired by anybody who knows the power of the Monk one and wants a prime historical document (Monk coming to Japan for 1st time; now that was a revelation!)
Track Listing
Straight, No Chaser; Pannonica; Just a Gigolo; Evidence; Jackie-ing; Bemsha Swing; Epistrophy; I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You; Hackensack; Blue Monk; Epistrophy.
Personnel
Thelonious Monk
pianoThelonious Monk- piano; Charlie Rouse- tenor saxophone; Butch Warren- bass; Frankie Dunlop- drums.
Album information
Title: Monk In Tokyo | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Columbia Records