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When you get a combination as in Duke Ellington played by Thelonius Monk, it's a combo that's hard to beat. Buy the album.
Everyone has an interpretation of Duke Ellington's work, and everyone has an interpretation of Monk's work. This crystal clear recording features a number of the Duke's biggest hits, with Monk stomping and two-note-interval-ing them into a whole different sound. So what's a jazz fan to make of one of the legendary pianists of all time taking on one of the greatest jazz composers of all time. Just sit back and let the Monkisms of the Duke roll over your brain and massage it into complete submission. You won't find many recordings as interesting and as repeat-playable as this one. A choice selection for the jazz enthusiast, this will also round out any popular music collection with familar tunes in different sorts of renderings.
I thought this was a fine album. Now, wouldn't it have been neat to have the reverse of this as well. I agree with some reviewers that this was not Monk "unleashed." Still, it's neat to hear one master interpret the work of another. That's what you get here. You know,"Duke Ellington Plays Thelonious Monk". I'd love to hear Duke play HIS version of "Straight, No Chaser" or "'Round Midnight" with a combo or even his big band.
Insipid. As an untried talent, I read the record companies wanted Monk to come out with something "safe." It's painful hearing Monk accommodate with playing somebody else's stuff--even if that someone is Ellington.
Underneath everything else Monk's roots were as a stride player and a composer. For what it's worth, according to Monk's son (drummer T.S.Monk) this was Monk's favorite of his own recordings. When you hear hear it you might understand why. What better for such a man than the music of the Duke. No, this doesn't have the nice scratchy corners of some of Monk's other work, but it is beautiful nonetheless, and isn't that the point.
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