Thelonious Monk Quartet - Live à Amiens, France - Partie 1 / réalisateur, Bernard Claeys ; Ben Riley, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Rouse, Larry Gales.

[Place of publication not identified] : SONUMA, [1966]

©1965

1 streaming video file (38 min.) : sound, color

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"It was a different era. One where they made records like crazy without giving a thought to the intended audience. Albums were released as an afterthought. Columbia, with the producer Teo Macero, adopted this policy. This concert, in the Brussels Palais des Beaux Arts in March 1963, took place at the beginning of the pianist's relationship with the label (1962-1968). Thelonius Monk was getting ready for a hyperactive year in 1964, with six albums to his name, including one with an appropriate title, *It's Monk Time*, given that the pianist enjoyed, at the peak of his career, the success that had been so long in coming. His angular, percussive and dissonant style was finally recognized for its true worth. The buffoon had become an inventive genius. The hour had arrived. It was the time for a new rhythmic collaboration with Butch Warren then Larry Gales (bass), and Ben Riley (drums). But for his debut in Belgium, Monk was still accompanied by Frankie Dunlop (drums) and John Ore (bass), a rhythm section who elevated *Monk's Dream* (1962) and *Criss Cross* (1963) to become the hallmarks of Monk's discography, and who accompanied the pianist for almost four years. In Brussels it was a glitzy bop quartet who appeared, with a set list of numbers which have become, in some cases, Monk classics. In order, they were: ""Bye Ya"", ""Drums solo"", ""Criss Cross"", ""Nutty"" and ""Epistrophy"". Charlie Rouse, who participated in all Monk's ventures for ten years, features in several numbers. At his side, during a solo, Monk performed his characteristic jerky dance. Monk, his cap and his well-cut suit. It's all here. Florent Servia".

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July 07, 2023

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