Product Description Jazz Icons: Thelonious Monk features two intimate concerts fi lmed three days apart in Scandanavia in the Spring of 1966 with a legendary quartet that includes drummer Ben Riley, bassist Larry Gales and tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse. Thelonious Monk revolutionized jazz with his innovative musical approach and these remarkable performances allow viewers the rare opportunity to experience MonkÂs genius up close on his classic compositions, Â"Blue Monk,Â" Â"EpistrophyÂ" and Â"ÂRound Midnight.Â" .com This DVD, which contains Thelonious Monk's two studio television performances taped in Oslo and Copenhagen in 1966, proves that seeing Monk is as important as hearing him. He's backed by his legendary quartet tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse, bassist Larry Gales, and drummer Ben Riley, who was forced to play with a spare borrowed drumkit. Save for the two renditions of the standard "Lulu's Back in Town" and another popular song, "Don't Blame Me," the rest of the six selections are pure Monk, including the spellbinding "Blue Monk," the algorithmic "Epistrophy," and of course, his eternal ballad "'Round Midnight," delivered here at a slightly faster tempo. Thelonious's flat-fingered touch, trancelike dancing (which Riley playfully mimics), fancy footwork at the keyboard, and wild choice of hats steal the show. In the 20-page liner notes,trumpeter, arranger, and Monk scholar Don Sickler encourages you to, "[t]ake this fantastic opportunity to get a better understanding of his distinct style, of the unique way he accompanies soloists, and the other idiosyncrasies that make Monk a musical treasure." --Eugene Holley, Jr. P.when('A').execute(function(A) { A.on('a:expander:toggle_description:toggle:collapse', function(data) { window.scroll(0, data.expander.$expander[0].offsetTop-100); }); }); Review "Jazz Icons is doing for jazz what the Criterion Collection has done for classic and important films". -- Jazz Times See more
W**S
Was disappointed in this album
His group did not sound quite as good I remembered.
E**R
Magnífico concierto de un coloso de la música
Desde hace algunos años quería obtener este concierto y finalmente está en mis manos. 100% recomendable!
P**I
Seeing Monk is almost as important as hearing him
I've been a Monk-o-phile since 1955, but I had never seen him before. Someday, I am going to turn off the sound (which is very very very good) and just watch his fingers. He has an unusual "touch" on the keys---flat fingered and pounding or tickling by turns. On another DVD, Randy Weston points out that Monk put his whole body into the music. That is clear on this DVD. At the end of the Denmark set, he is drenched in sweat--not from moving around, but from the "work" of creating this music. It's an intensity that cannot come across an audio CD. One has to see it. The camera work (focusing a lot on hands) is enthralling.
S**Y
Monk quartet
The playing is very good, but seems a bit awkward and strained due to the lack of an audience on both sessions; the players seem a but more relaxed on the second session (some of the players even make a cute imitation of the Monk dance). Overall it's fun watching Monk use those unorthodox fingerings to get his sound out and 'Round Midnight is classic. Definitely worth a purchase to see good, quality footage of the quartet, but I don't think it's the most enjoyable DVD of the series.
B**K
The best Monk combo ever!
One of the very few live Monk videos. The best quartet, as featured on many contemporary Columbia albums. Not before a live audience performance, as the lighting and sound equipment of the time would have blocked the view. I wished there were more tunes; but apparently this was all they performed. An excellent video way to see how the members interacted.Get it!
H**S
Jazz Icons: Thelonious Monk Live in '66
This was bought as part of a collection I am assembling as a gift for a family member. Outstanding collections can be found on Amazon - which really surprised me. I hadnt realized you could sit down and really search for that goo old time quality music here at Amazon!! Love their collections!!
A**3
AWESOME!!!
This was my first Jazz Icons DVD purchase and it is worth every penny!!! From the opening track I was blown away!!! Monk is BRILLIANT and very entertaining to watch (especially when he gets up from the piano to dance). Great DVD! Would highly recommend to anyone slightly interested in Jazz music.
L**A
Four Stars
Jazz Icons is a collection with excelent music and good quality videos considering when were the recordings made
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