Plays Monk Live at Intersection for the Arts

features a wealth of talent that focuses intensely on interpreting the work of Thelonious Monk, and includes Ben Goldberg on clarinet, Devin Hoff on contra bass, and Scott Amendola playing drums. And because of their generous willingness to let me share the recording I made, you’ll find MP3 audio files of all twelve songs they played as well as a seven-minute web video of Track 11: Evidence at the links below. Experiencing music like this live is so hard to describe sometimes, but I think these quotes from the musicians themselves provide the best insights into what Plays Monk is all about. So, please enjoy the recordings, and make sure to support these guys and Intersection for the Arts the next chance you get! (P.S. I need help identifying the names of tracks 6, 7, and 8, so any Monk fans out there that can help me with that, please contact me here.)

“Plays Monk fell together. Ben and Devin had been working on Thelonious Monk tunes together. I called them both for a gig. Ben said “Let’s play only Thelonious Monk.” Of course, what else is there? Thelonious Monk is one of the greatest composers/piano players ever. Totally unique approach to Jazz. His tunes are all memorable. They sing themselves. His voice on the piano was unique and unprecedented. Totally recognizable. Monk’s music will live on forever. This is our homage to him, his interminable spirit and desire to push the envelope. And our way of doing our thing through Monk.” — Scott Amendola, Drums

“The music of Thelonious Monk is one of the greatest bodies of creative work produced anywhere in the 20th century, and a pinnacle in the history of American art. Monk’s songs are condensed compositions that function as riddles, as lessons, and above all as vibrant, swinging music. Each one of them possesses an inner strength and resiliency that can withstand infinite variations and permutations without giving up its form or its content. They permit the individual musicians to discover the heart of the matter and learn its truths in their own way and at their own pace, always revealing more to the careful and patient student. This band, then, is a collective attempt to engage in this dialogue.” — Devin Hoff, Contra Bass

“The compositions of Thelonious Monk offer distinct challenges to the jazz musician. Each song is a unique parable of form, timing, concision, and motion. The musician who investigates this material finds, additionally, a series of interlocking meditations on the fundamentals of melody, harmony, rhythm, and form. Monk’s music is substantial, durable, and entrancing; as with the great European classical music, it abides apart from any particular performance while containing within it the endless possibility of discovery and renewal. Plays Monk is a trio that is developing a sound by performing Monk’s songs and listening hard for the consequence. They have been working together for a year, playing a lot, always trying new things, always aiming for the distilled truth of the music.” — Ben Goldberg, Clarinet

Download QuickTime Video
Download Windows Media Video
Download 01. Reflections
Download 02. Eronel
Download 03. Nutty
Download 04. Skippy
Download 05. Ask Me Now
Download 06. Track 6
Download 07. Track 7
Download 08. Track 8
Download 09. Epistrophy
Download 10. Ugly Beauty
Download 11. Evidence
Download 12. Light Blue
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