Plays Duke Ellington

Thelonious Monk, T. S. Monk | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ojc
• ASIN: B000000Y1B
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #294,721 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Monk plays the Duke., August 21, 2003

By 

Daniel Fineberg (Northridge, California USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Plays Duke Ellington (Audio CD)

With this recording, Monk began his tenure at Riverside Records, which was very fruitful and lasted till around the early sixties when Columbia stole him away. The idea was that Monk was gaining popularity, but he was still a tough act to get used to for a lot of people because of the idiosyncratic compositions and piano style. So they suggested an album of someone else's material, to let those less familiar with Monk get used to his playing before confronting the genius of his writing. And who better than Duke to supply the material--Duke, whose playing, along with James P. Johnson and some of the other stride players, influenced Monk a great deal. The result is--surprise, surprise--an absolutely brilliant record. Ellington is reinvented, as is anyone lucky enough to be filtered through Monk's genius. The most wonderful thing is that there is no conflict of musical personalities, no struggle between the old and the new. There is more than enough room for both, and these recordings turn out to be at once purely Ellington and purely Monk. And Thelonious is helped in no small part by drummer Kenny Clarke and bassist Oscar Pettiford, two of the best players of their time. The highlights are every song.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars brilliant, January 9, 2002

By 

Clare Quilty (a little pad in hawaii) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plays Duke Ellington (Audio CD)

This was the first album Thelonious Monk released on the Riverside label and, at the time, the purpose of it was to convey to the public (who primarily viewed Monk as too strange and inaccessable) that he could play "normal" music too.

I think that purpose was well served, but time has been kind to "Monk Plays Ellington" and the songs here don't give the impression that the musician is placating or spoon-feeding the listener.

Rather, "Monk Plays Ellington" is important because it can be many things to many different types of listeners. It IS a great first purchase if you're trying to get to know Monk. But also, like most of the standards Monk recorded, it demonstrates just how Monk's style of playing -- his unusual pauses and phrasing --work when a familiar composition is run through them.

On this album you hear one very unique type of musical genius interpreting another very unique type of musical genius. And this music is so good. It's inventive, it's playful, and in the strangest and best way, it is thoroughly reassuring.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smooth, easy Monk, July 27, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Plays Duke Ellington (Audio CD)

Granted, Monk purists have a hard time with this one. It is the "least Monk-like" of his sessions. In my opinion, there is not only plenty of pure Monk, but the uniqueness of Monk's interpretation of Ellington standards. Monk's playing is restrained and less off kilter (which many people would like). The overall effect is wonderful, it swings, and I dare say, there are shades of late Bud Powell (at the end of that piano great's career). An ideal album for Monk novices who want to ease into his sound, and an essential addition for collectors.