Thelonious Monk is something of an acquired taste. As Monk himself has said, “The piano ain’t got no wrong notes” … but once that taste is acquired, the listening experience is singular and thoroughly enjoyable! The impression is one of almost hitting the note by playing around it, implying the expected note by actually creating a new version of it. Monk is the very definition of avant-garde … half pianist, half painter. As for Charlie Rouse adding his tenor to the mix, Charlie rents space inside Monk’s head. Together they are musical twins joined at the hip!
Recorded in 1966 in Denmark, Don’t Blame Me puts Monk’s quartet on hold for a solo performance of the time-tested classic.
Monk’s Bolivar Blues was recorded in Japan in 1963. The quartet is Thelonious at the piano, Charlie Rouse on tenor saxophone, Frankie Dunlop playing drums and Butch Warren on bass.
