Paris Jazz Concert Review

07/13/2005 7:37 AM, AMG


Pianist Thelonious Monk appeared at the Olympia in Paris on consecutive nights in March 1965; this is the second CD documenting some of the music played, which was probably first recorded for a radio broadcast. The slow fade of the music is due to the reverberation caused by the large theater's acoustics, but it doesn't interfere with the music. Like the previous Malaco Jazz CD from the day before, the play list has no surprises but the performances are exhilarating, including long versions of Monk's always swinging "Well You Needn't," "Teo," "Bright Mississippi" (his reworking of "Sweet Georgia Brown"), the old standard "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You," and the inevitable set closer "Epistrophy." Tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse is in great form and the quartet seems to have turned it up just a notch from the previous evening. One can't have enough versions of Monk playing his works, so this CD is recommended. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide