Vibraphonists influenced by Thelonious Monk

[Rabshakeh]

The vibraphone has a close relationship as an instrument to the piano, but I can't off the top of my head think of any vibes players who showed a clear relationship to Thelonious Monk's music. Perhaps the high sustained sound of a vibraphone makes Monk's rhythmic concepts less satisfying. 

Any ideas? Idle curiosity, really. 

[Joe]

Milt Jackson is the only vibes player I can think of who recorded with Monk. That's the session that gave us "Misterioso", IIRC.

I would say the version of Bobby Hutcherson who's so integral to Grachan Moncur III's EVOLUTION and Dolphy's OUT TO LUNCH is engaging with Monk's concepts. 

[Rabshakeh]

I don't really hear much Monk in Jackson. You're right that he played with him but I just don't hear much of it having rubbed off.

Hutcherson perhaps a little? But it seems like more of an expansive modal thing to me. 

[mhatta]

When Karl Berger plays with Don Cherry, he uses a lot of dissonance, so he sounds a bit like Monk, but his choice of notes is quite different from Monk’s.

https://youtu.be/Z62wpWSraTU?si=ns11I4Ga1KQea0Bt

[Rooster_Ties]

Teddy Charles, perhaps?

Maybe (especially) that first Prestige Jazz Quartet album with Mal, which happens to include as version of “Friday the 13th” — though even without that Monk tune, I’d still be tempted to suggest that album.

And there’s an angularity to a number of albums with Charles on vibes.

Can’t say that’s enough to qualify as a ‘Monk’ influence specifically — but I’d say they occupy a similar space, at least in my brain.

[Rabshakeh]

Thanks. That angularity is what I am thinking of specifically. 

[Alexander Hawkins]

4 hours ago, Rabshakeh said:

The vibraphone has a close relationship as an instrument to the piano, but I can't off the top of my head think of any vibes players who showed a clear relationship to Thelonious Monk's music. Perhaps the high sustained sound of a vibraphone makes Monk's rhythmic concepts less satisfying. 

Any ideas? Idle curiosity, really. 

I guess of course it depends on how we define a 'clear' influence(!), but for a vibraphonist (though this sells him way short - multi-instrumentalist, electronic musician, producer etc.) who knows this music on a really deep level - the amazing Corey Mwamba.

[jlhoots]

Walt Dickerson

[Joe]

5 hours ago, Rabshakeh said:

I don't really hear much Monk in Jackson. You're right that he played with him but I just don't hear much of it having rubbed off.

Hutcherson perhaps a little? But it seems like more of an expansive modal thing to me. 

Jackson's approach to the blues could be pretty Monkish at times. See also: that Prestige quartet date with Horace Silver.

I'm thinking specifically of the way Hutcherson uses space (or silence) on those records. I would agree that, by the mid-60s, his playing had become something a bit more conventional.

Dickerson ... I thought of him as well. Maybe inasmuch as he translated much of what Coltrane was doing to the vibes, and Coltrane incorporated lessons from Monk.

Earl Griffith, who played with Cecil Taylor, may be another. But the recorded evidence is so scant (that one record, LOOKING AHEAD!, IIRC). 

[jazzbo]

I hear some Monkian mischief in the vibes playing of Warren Wolf.

[Д.Д.]

2 hours ago, Joe said:

Earl Griffith, who played with Cecil Taylor, may be another. But the recorded evidence is so scant (that one record, LOOKING AHEAD!, IIRC). 

Yes, absolutely. Clear monkisms in Griffith's playing, IMO. It is interesting because Cecil also sounds quite monkish on this excellent album.   

[Rabshakeh]

2 hours ago, Д.Д. said:

Yes, absolutely. Clear monkisms in Griffith's playing, IMO. It is interesting because Cecil also sounds quite monkish on this excellent album.   

I was about to jump in to say exactly that. 

5 hours ago, jlhoots said:

Walt Dickerson

 

4 hours ago, Joe said:

Dickerson ... I thought of him as well. Maybe inasmuch as he translated much of what Coltrane was doing to the vibes, and Coltrane incorporated lessons from Monk.

Sorry - I should have been clearer. I am talking about Monk's timing more than the harmonic thing. I think it is easier to see harmonic descendants. 

[AllenLowe]

never mind.

Edited 3 hours ago by AllenLowe

[Guy Berger]

14 hours ago, Rabshakeh said:

I don't really hear much Monk in Jackson. You're right that he played with him but I just don't hear much of it having rubbed off.

 

100%.  Jackson and Monk are great complements (I often find Jackson can be a little boring when Monk is not around) but I don’t hear any influence.