Customer Reviews

Plays Duke Ellington

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3 star:		(1)
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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.

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.

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.

There has probably never been a musician as uncompromising as Thelonious Monk. He did it his way to an extent that Frank Sinatra could never have dreamed of. However, after some personal problems and a stint with the less than supportive Prestige records, Monk's career was at a low ebb, so when Riverside producer Orrin Keepnews suggested that he do a couple albums of other people's tunes as a kind of icebreaker, Monk agreed.

Ellington was one of the most obvious of Monk's influences- ("Sounds like he's stealing some of my stuff" Ellington is supposed to have said on first hearing a Monk record)- and a set of Ellington' greatest hits would seem like a natural way to let Monk be Monk while playing a set of jazz standards.

Unfortunately, whether out of respect for the material, some degree of tentativeness with a new producer and record label, or from a conscious effort to smooth off some of Monk's more controversial characteristics, the playing on this first Riverside LP seems a little like Smooth Monk. You can tell it's Monk, but kind of generi-sized, as if to convince Erroll Garner fans that Thelonious was their friend, and really wouldn't hurt them. The result is a nice average kind of album: has its moments ("Solitude"), but a little dull in spots ("It Don't Mean A Thing...").

On the next Riverside LP, a collection of standards called "The Unique Thelonious Monk", the arrangements and playing are much more angular and Monk-like, and by the third LP, "Brilliant Corners" no holds are barred, no compromises made. The rest of the Monk Riverside catalog is Monk his way: "Monk's Music", "Thelonious Himself", "Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall", "5xMonkx5"- all examples of one of the most sharply etched, self-aware musical visions ever.

As phase one of a marketing strategy, "Thelonious Monk Plays Duke Ellington" was fine, but as a Monk album it's just okay.

If it's a Monk composition, I want to hear Monk play it. If it ain't a Monk composition, I want to hear Monk play it.

Orrin Keepnews was right: match Monk with Duke and you get a perfect pairing of geniuses...you will listen to this a lot and still pick up subtleties of Monk rendering Duke's famous compositions...an under-the-radar collector's CD.

Admittedly, I'm a latecomer to the Thelonius Monk songbook. I just love his decidedly warped piano playing. It reminds me of my state of mind - off kilter. Am also reading the very good bio Thelonius Monk, an American Original. He certainly was, and I totally connect with the whole back story of his struggle to succeed in my home town, New York City, while dealing with financial and mental issues on a day to day basis.

That said, this music sounds so fresh and it resonates at the same time. If you're a big Duke Ellington fan like me, you have to check this out. After all, Monk was the coolest of the cats!

Siouxie,
Bronx, New York City

Put Duke Ellington into it anyway, anywhere, anyhow, and you've got a winner! We loved the CD!!

Monk's "Plays Duke Ellington" album is a well known beginning of a fruitfull attachment to Riverside label; the producer thought it would be wise to present his quirky star in a less strange setting, playing the music of another great artist; both pianist and composer.
Frankly, I agree with people who say this is not true and complete Thelonious experience but, although I love and respect true and complete Thelonious, this is still great jazz.
For, Ellington was a great composer and these performances are nice, modernist and moderately monkish readings of some of his greatest tunes.
Highly recomendable both to Ellington fans and to modern jazz fans, althoug not all of the Monk fans will be thrilled.

Quite different versions of some classic Duke Ellington songs, quieter, but with a stunning effect. In My Solitude is nothing short of a miracle! Don't Mean A Thing is full of surprises, and as Don Cherry once said, Jazz is the sound of surprise.