Product Description:
By 1964, pianist/composer Thelonious Monk, once the American jazz scene's resident eccentric, was essentially a star, appearing on the cover of TIME magazine and recording for a major label (Columbia). Perhaps that's why Monk's quartet plays with a champion's swagger and enthusiasm at their 1964 appearance at the Monterey Jazz Festival. While this disc may appear to be a typical Monk set of the era ("Straight No Chaser" and other classics), there are some crucial differences. First, Monk's regular bassist wasn't available, so the excellent Steve Swallow (who'd soon rise to fame with the Gary Burton Quartet) filled in, and the final two tracks feature a small horn section. On the latter, this augmented group plays with a festive exuberance that recalls Charles Mingus. (Maybe it's no coincidence: Buddy Collette, who directed the horn section, played with Mingus.)
Entertainment Reviews:
Down Beat - p.68
4 stars out of 5 -- "[A] pleasure....'Evidence,' a kind of cubist reconstruction of 'Just You Just Me,' smoothes out as Monk swings with a relaxed but pithy ease."
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