Summer of Monk

[John L]

1 hour ago, Quasimado said:

Right! And the three tracks have been appended at the end of the Geneva Concert 1966 CD with Monk, Rouse etc.

Personnel for the Philly Bluenote tracks of 11-17-56: Monk, Henry, Paul Chambers, Willie Jones. Details here:

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Geneva-Concert-THELONIOUS-QUARTET/dp/B00NGVNKO8

Great find! Many thanks. Q

Very interesting.   I have the Geneva Concert.  So is it worth getting the CDs for just the two tracks with Ernie Henry?  Are they earthshattering?  

[Teasing the Korean]

On July 3, 2016 at 0:40 AM, JSngry said:

But avoid the one with Oliver Nelson at all costs. I love Oliver Nelson, but that record is an abomination.

I will respectfully disagree. Ditch the two (awful) Teo Macero tunes and replace them with the Monk tunes that appear as bonus cuts on the CD and you get a consistent album.

It sounds like Monk sitting in with the Tonight Show band.  

[Quasimado]

6 hours ago, John L said:

Very interesting.   I have the Geneva Concert.  So is it worth getting the CDs for just the two tracks with Ernie Henry?  Are they earthshattering?  

Well, if you already have the Geneva Concert, probably not (unless you are an Ernie Henry completest like me). Rhythm-A-Ning is heavily edited, so Ernie and Monks’ solos are not included - the track opens with PCs arco solo, leading into 4’s and then to the out-theme. Bemsha Swing is complete and the band is hot, with fine, strong Henry and powerful Monk.

My personal feeling is that Henry (problems aside) was the ideal reedman for Monk. He was always a fluent, intriguing soloist from the early days with Fats, Dameron etc.(’47), and he then went on to play lead alto/ soloist in Dizzy’s big band, so he was deeply schooled in bop and was also an excellent musician (which Monk liked). His solo style was based in Bird, but highly individual - quirky in fact – just perfect for Monk! It’s unfortunate there is so little recorded evidence of the two playing together.  Q

[John L]

21 hours ago, Quasimado said:

Well, if you already have the Geneva Concert, probably not (unless you are an Ernie Henry completest like me). Rhythm-A-Ning is heavily edited, so Ernie and Monks’ solos are not included - the track opens with PCs arco solo, leading into 4’s and then to the out-theme. Bemsha Swing is complete and the band is hot, with fine, strong Henry and powerful Monk.

 

My personal feeling is that Henry (problems aside) was the ideal reedman for Monk. He was always a fluent, intriguing soloist from the early days with Fats, Dameron etc.(’47), and he then went on to play lead alto/ soloist in Dizzy’s big band, so he was deeply schooled in bop and was also an excellent musician (which Monk liked). His solo style was based in Bird, but highly individual - quirky in fact – just perfect for Monk! It’s unfortunate there is so little recorded evidence of the two playing together.  Q

 

Thanks for that information.

[Milestones]

I'm always way more impressed by Sonny Rollins than Ernie Henry on Briilant Corners.

It's interesting that Monk had such great musical relationships with Rollins and Coltrane.  The bio reveals that Trane sat in with Monk more than once in the 1960s--the last time just 6 months before Coltrane's death.