Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Thelonious Monk: Monk In Tokyo

Thelonious Monk: Monk In Tokyo

By Jim Santella
July 1, 2001
View read count

Recorded May 21, 1963, this two-disc reissue represents classic Monk. Adventurous in his creative interplay with Charlie Rouse, Thelonious Monk wove lines that turned unexpectedly time and again. On his way to worldwide acclaim, Monk was already there musically. The 24-bit digitally remastered sound on this collection brings every nuance to the listener: clear as a bell and exciting. With walking bass and a swinging drummer, Monk and Rouse roll through familiar songs.

As they chase each other through "Bemsha Swing," you've got to wonder why so many of today's jazz artists prefer to add extras to their lineups. Monk and Brubeck brought their quartets into the mainstream with nothing more than four distinct voices that interacted musically. There was no need to add synth strings, finger chimes, congas, backup vocalists or keyboard drones. Rouse and Monk remake "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" in their own glib style. "Hackensack" and "Evidence" drive with foot-tappin' energy. When Monk adds a few chord wrinkles to Butch Warren's walking bass solo, you can hear the audience laugh lightly. They loved the show. This is one of the best from Monk's classic quartet.

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

piano

Thelonious 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

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Meet Duane Eubanks
< Previous

Mats Gustafsson / Paul Lovens Duo & ...
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.