Album Reviews
1957: Monk’s Music
Monk’s Music (1957)
Hard Bop, 8/10, Genre Classic
An enticing air of uncertainty hanging over re-recorded classic Monk compositions
The temptation to market Monk as an odd-ball always proved too great (starting with the cover art), and there’s an enticing air of uncertainty hanging over these classic Monk compositions – re-recorded with a generation-spanning horn section as opposed to their original 1947/48 trio versions –, but Monk is really enthusiastic about the circumstances (“Coltrane! Coltrane!”), and he wants the band to enjoy their time together. The band, however, sound slightly worried, as if afraid they might disappoint him. This leads to some great results – the band sort of crushes it on “Well, You Needn’t” – there’s the unhinged swing of Monk’s piano runs, there’s the deadlock bop of Blakey’s cymbal-centered drums, there’s a good sax-solo with piano-interjections where Coltrane really tries to listen to the signals Monk gives with his left hand (half-successfully – but the unsure mood works). Coltrane’s audible hesitation on said “Well, You Needn’t” is actually quite lovely. Next up is “Ruby, My Dear” – Coleman Hawkins gives a lyrical touch to Monk’s romantic, smoky ballad – and Monk takes a backseat, his piano back in the mix, the spotlight fully on the tenorist. Monk’s compositions, with their child-like, jittery and punctuating licks, invite horns to go into harsh, blaring registers, but these are historical combo recordings of classic Monk-songs – except “Crepescule with Nellie”, making its first appearance here. I’ll always prefer Monk solo or in trio settings because his lyrical side, playing with and around pauses, comes out so well, but this album slightly opened his work with horn sections for me.
Text Lambrecht 