2 programs
John C. Graham | toronto, ontario Canada | 01/15/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Nichols program, recorded in 1984, was by a band with Sean Bergin (alto sax), Michael Moore(alto sax), Maurice Horsthuis(viola), Toon de Gouw(trumpet), Han Bennink(drums), Ernst Reijseger(cello), Paul Thermos(alto sax),Steve Lacy(soprano sax), Larry Fishkind(tuba), Misha Mengelberg(piano), Wolter Wierbos(trombone), and Garret List(trombone).
The Monk program, from 1986, consisted of Ab Baars(soprano and tenor sax, clarinet), Michael Moore(alto sax and clarinet), Wolter Weirbos(trombone), Ernst Reijseger(cello), Maurice Horsthuis(viola), Han Bennink(drums), Misha Mengelberg(piano), and on two of the seven tunes George Lewis(trombone).
By the mid eighties the bop and hard bop music of the fifties had made its impact, again, in the market place. Many new players from the school systems were flooding the studios and making a name for themselves. Some were fortunate enough to aquire major label backing and sponsorship. The songs of Horace Silver, Hank Mobley, Lee Morgan, and others became the standards of the day. These young musicians were playing the tunes, playing the changes, and soloing in the manner of their idols....and that was just fine.
Then along came a bunch of Dutch musicians-and a few Americans-with renditions of Monk and Nichols tunes that didn't quite fit the box. They did more than just play the changes. They arranged the tunes in a way where they still swung like mad, yet the tempos, instrumentation, and soloing was completely original. All the melodies are there. Everything seems familiar....and then you hear Larry Fishkind's first tuba solo, or the trombone playing from Wolter Weirbos, the reeds of Ab Baars, Sean Bergin, Paul Thermos, and Michael Moore or the incredible Steve Lacy, not to mention the outstanding contributions from the strings of Ernst Reijseger and Maurice Horsthuis. Deliciously fresh and exciting!
Han Bennink and Misha Mengelberg are, perhaps, the key players here. They were the guys who played brilliantly on Dolphy's Last Date-especially the long take of Monk's Epistrophy,. They have a history with this music and likely a great respect for it. Both play wonderfully, Bennink booting the band along with appropriate punctuation and Mengelberg adding his idiosyncratic pianistic touch-a loveable thing indeed...and so very much IN THE TRADITION.
It was tough to find this one back in the 80's(cassette). ICP released it about 10 years ago and it quickly sold out. They've released it again in 2006. Seven Monk tunes and six Nichols tunes for a total time of about seventy minutes. The sound and performance is fantastic for both programs. It is absolutely worth any amount of trouble to find this one."
