Standard Time 4: Marsalis Plays Monk

Wynton Marsalis | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 18, 1999)
• Original Release Date: May 18, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000J280
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,297 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good effort with a couple of gems, April 13, 2000

By 

Tyler Smith (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Standard Time 4: Marsalis Plays Monk (Audio CD)

This CD is aptly titled in that it's Wynton's take (with the help of Wycliffe Gordon) on Monk --a commentary on the music. Nothing replaces the original, of course, but these are for the most part, strong interpretations of the music by Wynton and his well-known bandmates of the mid-'90s.

For a tribute CD to succeed completely, it has to find real wellsprings of inspiration that put a completely personal stamp on the original music, and "Marsalis on Monk" doesn't quite make that level. In fact, for a good comparison with this CD, check out altoist/flutist James Spaulding's "Brilliant Corners," which in my opinion is just a notch better than this in revisiting and reformulating Monk's work.

The music here is never stale, but many of the cuts strike me as simply very well-played covers of well-known Monk tunes. There are two notable exceptions, however. "Four in One," one of Monk's most challenging pieces is super-charged with energy, and Wynton tears off a brilliant solo near the end. I immediately hit the repeat button after I heard it for the first time. "Green Chimneys" is a terrific set closer, full of authoritative solos and rich group playing that puts to rest the notion that Monk's music can't swing.

I'd also give high marks to Wynton for the choice of material, which includes some infrequently heard minor gems, such as "Let's Cool One," "Reflections," and "Ugly Beauty."

This isn't Marsalis's best album and it isn't the best collection of Monk interpretations, but it easily delivers enough of the goods to make it a solid thumbs up.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars One Of The Worst Interpretations Of Monk Tunes I Ever Heard, March 24, 2008

By 

J. Rich - See all my reviews

This review is from: Standard Time 4: Marsalis Plays Monk (Audio CD)

Wynton Marsalis is a great trumpeter. No question that he can swing with the best of them. Unfortunately, this "Standard Time" is the second weakest of the "Standard Time" series. Like all great music, it has to be evaluated carefully.

Here's a brief analysis of "Marsalis Plays Monk" -

The playing on the recording, while all-around good, doesn't do anything for me. It's too static and formulaic. The improvisations aren't that great. Marsalis seems to be holding back a bit from letting his imagination do any real kind of creative thinking. It sounds as though he's just going through the motions instead of trying to capture Monk's music. It sounds almost like it's too "New Orleans" to be Monk. I'm fully aware of where Marsalis came from, but Monk's music doesn't really lend itself to this kind of treatment. In fact, Monk's best work is with smaller groups like a quartet. There are too many instruments not blending well together. The unison lines are sloppy and need more rehearsing. This record sounds more like a jam session.

People can say what they want to about this record, but to me, it doesn't hold up very well and it is, for lack of a better word, uninspired.

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Monk minus Monk = this album, September 22, 2000

By 

nathan (Oakland, CA. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Standard Time 4: Marsalis Plays Monk (Audio CD)

This album is Monk if you subtract everything that made him a true, quirky-but-methodical original, and the greatest jazz composer ever (or at least tied with Duke for the title). No edges, no grit, no shards...no "brilliant corners", you might say. To be fair, this sort of middling approach may have value to some listeners, and perhaps it will turn someone on to the originals, so perhaps it is not a total waste. At any rate, it's hard for these ears to take.

Why not buy a Steve Lacy record instead?