Jazz Icons: Thelonious Monk Live in '66 (2006)
Thelonious Monk features two intimate concerts filmed 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 Monk’s genius up close on his classic compositions “Blue Monk,” “Epistrophy” and “’Round Midnight.”
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Excellent adaptation.
Admirable film.
Absolutely Fantastic
One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.
This is pianist Thelonious Monk's quartet featuring Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), Larry Gales (double bass) and Ben Riley (drums). They play two sets running about half an hour each, filmed in black-and-white in TV studios without an audience. The first set was done in Norway in 1966, the other in Denmark the same year. Hence we get two versions of 'Lulu's Back In Town' but they are equally interesting. Featured also are 'Blue Monk', 'Don't Blame Me' (piano only on this one), 'Epistrophy' and 'Round Midnight'. I've been a fan of Monk's music for more than half a century and, although this bassist and drummer would not have been my first choice, it is fascinating to watch the great man's keyboard style and peculiar body-language in close-up.
This is a great companion piece to the Eastwood documentary "Straight No Chaser." Two clips from concert performances in Norway and Denmark during Monk's 1966 tour offer a glimpse of what Thelonious Monk was up to in the 60s. Charlie Rouse is on Saxophone, Larry Gales on Bass, and Ben Riley on drums. The first set is "Lulu's Back in Town," followed by "Blue Monk" and "'Round Midnight." The second set is a different version of "Lulu's Back in Town" -- a nice way to glimpse what live jazz was all about -- followed this time by "Don't Blame Me" and "Epistrophy." It's clear that Monk is engaged throughout with these musicians. Like any live jazz, some moments are better than others, but the DVD is work serious viewing by anyone who wants to get a better understanding of Monk's music. It's shot in black and white and has few cinematic flashes, a few close ups, some interesting camera angles, but for the most part it's pretty straightforward filmed performance, a documentary of some historic moments in jazz.