Thelonious Monk
“The quartet mediates admirably between concert hall sonorities, which convey the gravity and foreboding of Monk’s tunes, and liberal, almost hoedown fiddling that captures the composer’s wry playfulness. Best of all are the slow numbers, especially ‘Crepuscule With Nellie’ and ‘Round Midnight.’ Strings bring a new richness to the sad, stately elegance of the former, while the latter takes on both a tragic gypsy charm and a solidity of design that have always lurked deep in Monk’s music but have rarely been so firmly and lovingly revealed.”
From Orrin Keepnews’ liner notes: “I am deeply aware of the richness and complexity of the music of Thelonious Monk, having worked with him during my earliest years as a record producer and having loved and admired his music then and forever after. The concept of this album, which basically involves the recasting of some of Monk’s work as string quartet music, emerged (rather magically and almost full-grown) out of some conversations between myself and David Harrington, violinist and musical director of the Kronos Quartet. And I devised or collaborated on various answers as all the pieces were put together: approach, repertoire, choosing an arranger, bringing Ron Carter into the picture, building a sound that is unusal for either jazz or classical recording. Accordingly, I am heavily prjudiced in favor of this album and immensely proud of it. I find it doubly satisfying: valid and exciting performances that also add up to a sweeping affirmation of the strength and universality of Monk’s music.”
SELECT CREDITS
Kronos Quartet
David Harrington, violin
John Sherba, violin
Hank Dutt, viola
Joan Jeanrenaud, cello
Ron Carter, bass
Chuck Israels, bass
Eddie Marshall, drums
Arranged and adapted by Tom Darter
Produced by Orrin Keepnews
All music originally composed by Thelonious Monk, unless otherwise notated
Originally released by Landmark Records
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