Monk in Tokyo

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Monk in Tokyo
Live album by Thelonious Monk

Publication
(s)

1969

Label (s) Columbia Records

Format (s)

LP, 2LP, 2CD

Genre (s)

jazz

Title (number)

6/11

running time

1:20:44 (CD)

occupation
  • Piano: Thelonious Monk

production

Teo Macero , Orrin Keepnews (Reissue)

Studio (s)

Sankei Hall, Tokyo

chronology
Monk's Blues
(1969) 		Monk in Tokyo Something in Blue
(1972)
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Monk in Tokyo is an album by Thelonious Monk . Recordings of a concert by the Monk Quartet, which were made in Sankei Hall, Tokyo on May 21, 1963, were first released in 1969 as a long-playing record on Columbia Records . The album documents the quartet on their first Asia tour and in their first recorded collaboration with Butch Warren .

background

After a European tour in March 1963 with performances in Copenhagen and Paris, with Thelonious Monk with Charlie Rouse , John Ore and Frankie Dunlop and studio recordings for the Columbia album Criss-Cross , bassist Butch Warren joined the Thelonious Monk Quartet for Ore in early May , to perform with him in New York's Birdland . In May, the Monk Quartet went on their first tour of Japan, which was a triumphant success, according to Thomas Fitterling. The repertoire consisted mainly of Thelonious Monk's own compositions such as " Straight No Chaser ", "Blue Monk" and " Bemsha Swing ". The Japanese Nippon Columbia recorded the two guest performances Monks in the Tokyo Sankei Hall on May 21, 1963; Two days later, the Monk Quartet performed in a television studio, documented on the 1963 album Thelonious Monk in Japan .

Editorial notes

As the only work at this concert, Columbia had released "Evidence" in 1965 on the live compilation album Misterioso (Recorded on Tour) . After the album was released in 1969, Columbia in Japan presented additional material from the 1973 concert with the release of the double album Monk in Tokyo (CBS / Sony - SOPW 69 ~ 70). In 1990, the additional material also appeared on Columbia's Tokyo Concerts Vol. 2 album (CBS 466552-2). In 2001 Columbia released the recording in full as a double compact disc.

Track list

Monk in Tokyo

  • The Thelonious Monk Quartet - Monk in Tokyo (CBS / Sony - SONP 50170-R, CBS / Sony - SONP 50170R, CBS / Sony - SONP-50170-R)

A1 Epistrophy (Monk) 7:19
A2 Blue Monk (Monk) 13:20

B1 Straight, No Chaser (Monk) 9:36
B2 Just a Gigolo ( Irving Caesar , J. Brammer, L. Casucci) 2:25
B3 Bemsha Swing (Monk) 4:26
B4 Epistrophy (Monk) 0:58

CD edition (2001)

  • Thelonious Monk - Monk in Tokyo (Columbia C2K 63538, Legacy - 0635382003)
CD 1
  1. Straight, No Chaser 9:46
  2. Pannonica 7:46
  3. Just a Gigolo ( Irving Caesar , Julius Brammer , Leonello Casucci ) 2:30
  4. Evidence (Justice) 7:55
  5. Jackie-ing 5:07
  6. Bemsha Swing (D. Best, Monk) 4:25
  7. Epistrophy ( Kenny Clarke , Th. Monk) 1:10
CD 2
  1. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You ( George Bassman , Ned Washington ) 9:28
  2. Hackensack 11:03
  3. Blue Monk 13:18
  4. Epistrophy (K. Clarke, Monk) 8:25

All other compositions are by Thelonious Monk.

reception

Steve Loewy gave the album a 4½ (out of five) star rating in Allmusic, writing: “The Japanese audience is enthusiastic, and the quartet is responding with a generally inspired performance. Monk's trademark, bizarre compositions, can be experienced with their refined voices, rhythmic curiosities and melodic eccentricities. At this point in his career, Monk's output was remarkably consistent, and there is nothing here to dispel that characterization. Despite the short recording time, the music is of consistently high quality and is well recorded. "

The Absolute Sound reviewer said Rouse was in average shape, “but bassist Butch Warren and drummer Ben Riley swing like crazy, the sound is excellent and Monk himself sounds inspired - we value him so much as a composer that we forget what a great soloist he was. "

According to All About Jazz , this is “definitely” a good live Monk album, “on par with the fantastic Live at the It Club .” All in all, it's a live Monk recording that is mixed with a real one Joy Monks is delivered. It should be acquired by anyone who knows the importance of Monk and wishes to have a first class historical document.

According to Thomas Fitterling, Monk was in the best mood for his performance at Sankei Hall. The author also praises newcomer Butch Warren's game; his tone is (compared to John Ore) "stronger, more gripping and conveys a stronger drive."

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Thomas Fitterling: Thelonious Monk. His life, his music, his records. Oreos, Waakirchen 1987, ISBN 3-923657-14-5 .
  2. ↑ a b Review of the album at Allmusic (English). Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  3. ↑ Tom Lord : The Jazz Discography (online, accessed February 19, 2020)
  4. ↑ The Thelonious Monk Quartet - Monk In Tokyo (CBS / Sony SOPW 69 ~ 70) at Discogs
  5. ↑ Thelonious Monk - Tokyo Concerts Vol. 2 (CBS 466552 2) at Discogs
  6. ↑ Thelonious Monk - Monk in Tokyo (Columbia - C2K 63538, Legacy - 0635382003) at Discogs
  7. ↑ The Thelonious Monk Quartet - Monk in Tokyo at Discogs
  8. ↑ Monk in Tokyo. The Absolute Sound, January 19, 2018, accessed February 20, 2020 .
  9. ^ Thelonious Monk: Monk in Tokyo. All About Jazz, August 1, 2001, accessed February 17, 2020 .