Wadada Leo Smith: Solo: Reflections and Meditations on Monk
Smith covers four Monk compositions, "Ruby, My Dear," "Crepuscule with Nellie," "Reflections," and "´Round Midnight," and imagines Thelonious in four originals.
While this is a solo recording, on pieces like "Crepuscule with Nellie," where Smith plays the melody, there is also the presence of Monk accompanying the horn. Smith allows for enough space here, and in each composition, for us to perceive a figurative presentation of Monk's piano. This makes for an almost supernatural sound.
"Reflections" is played with a mute attached to his horn. Its effect is to almost make the music a spoken word piece. Contrast this with "´Round Midnight." Played with an open bell, it might be the most demanding music here. Not challenging for the listeners, but for a trumpeter to perform. Smith not only tames the trumpet beast, but domesticates its sound.
The original compositions are Monk-like dreams, "Monk and His Five Point Ring at the Five Spot Café," the escapism of "Monk and Bud Powell at Shea Stadium -A Mystery," and two versions of "Adagio," one with mute and one without. This may be the finest Monk tribute recording to come out of the centenary celebration.
Track Listing: Ruby, My Dear; Monk and His Five Point Ring at the Five Spot Café; Reflections; Adagio: Monkishness - A Cinematic Vision of Monk Playing Solo Piano; Crepuscule with Nellie; Adagio: Monk, the Composer in Sepia - A Second Vision Thelonious Monk; Monk and Bud Powell at Shea Stadium - A Mystery; ´Round Midnight.
Personnel: Wadada Leo Smith: trumpet
Title: Solo: Reflections and Meditations on Monk | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: TUM Records
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Rhythm Abstraction: Azure is the first volume of new compositions created as a follow up to 2018’s release Rhythm Kaleidoscope. As with that release, Brock Avery improvised drum and percussion solos. Frank Macchia then composed music for woodwinds and orchestra to Brock’s creations. Azure is the first of three extended play albums of 6-7 compositions which will be released starting in January and followed up in April and July. In Azure we have a created a group of pieces that continue our quest for honoring the art of improvisation with a “stream-of-consciousness” sense of composition,...
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