Thelonious Monk - Jazz 625 - part 1/4 - Straight, No Chaser

[thelorenzotable]

i love thelonious unique and unorthodox piano skills, he has a very random left hand... if i remeber correctly it was philip larkin called him "the elephant on the keyboard"...

[rotorlite]

When I was in High School in the 60's I was listening to Monk, Brubeck, etc. I don't think what the kids today are listening to will be even remembered in so many years much less enjoyed as if were new today. Then again I could be wrong since my 13 year old is showing interest in jazz already. Thanks for this upload.

[wastemgmt07]

Monk... you know i'm not an accomplished jazz fan...but I don't think that it's a rule to comment on this priceless video upload. This cat always blew me away with just going off on a tune. I mean just playin with the band then just goin off.... i guess words can't explain. Mr. Monk was truly an individual and a great talent. Thank you so much for this video upload.

[jevonj77]

Sorry to say this ...but it seems that others always play Thelonious' music much better than he ever would...

He doesn't seemed concerned with the sound quality of his songs...although beautiful...he plays them in a sort of bland style, void of all emotional beauty except intensity...

[PracticeMakesAwesome]

@jevonj77 maybe. I wouldn't understand why musicians wouldn't get better as time went on. Everybody starts with what the visionaries before them already made up (and monk made up a lot yo). I would expect Chick korea to be a lot better than Thelonius (I actually heard chick and gary burton duet on "bule monk" in Colorado). That how life works baby

[jevonj77]

@PracticeMakesAwesome I meant to say ever did...not ever would. But I dig what you're saying too...

[PracticeMakesAwesome]

@jevonj77 gotcha. point taken

[therunningpiano]

@jevonj77 that was his thing, he did it to sound original. he could've played like a regular pianist, but i guess he liked his style. i don't like his style much either, but it's what made him famous, so i guess we can take what we get.

[tubesoxabc]

the monkster is the best! just saw a band that tributes TM. ck them out.

search

nutty jazz pk 2

it's about 1: oo into video

[SIRONEDRAGON]

cool  : )

[phonographiq]

Whooooowhee MONK

[WESSERPARAQUAT]

the doors ripped this for we could be so good together

[zupahzmurv]

Too bad that the recording of this clip is bad. A several points during Monk's solo there is some serious distortion/clipping going on.

[wiliscool]

damn that swings

[scylla019]

epistrophy ! lol

[cwpfaff]

Mike Burkeable - if you were at the Marquee Club in 1965, tell us more! Did you see The Who there in '64/'65? Any other stories?

[senseitre]

I like Ben Riley's groove...wish he'd take something from Monk's use of pauses though.

[HandMane]

The beginning is epistrophy

[dreadtodred]

larry gayles swings hard

[aaronamccoy]

thelonious is a motherfucker

[timfosho]

white people could never do this

[jasonalias]

@timfosho dumbass

[jaws1785]

@timfosho dude, gershwin, brubeck, vince guaraldi, norah jones, benny goodman, beggie adair, bill susman, and dick hyman. to name a few, look it up. and don't be a fucking bigot on who can and cannot play jazz based on the color of there skin.

[jaws1785]

@jaws1785 also check out Hiromi Uehara, shes an asian chick

[JazzyZenBrotha]

@jaws1785 - Hiromi is awesome. Thelonious Monk and Hiromi Uehara are my 2 FAVORITES Jazz piano players.

[arew234]

@jaws1785 "Crow Jim" is what they used to call that. And you're right, it's such bullshit anyway.

[TurtleTeri]

how you doin?

[elortibamal]

He is a jazz icon

[jumboshrimp42]

way to focus on the saxaphone mr cameraman

[jasc178]

in my opinion Monk is the best jazz composer and one of the greatest musicians of all times

[andyboterman]

No one grooves like monk... no one...

[biggerturtle]

my man THE BEST!!!

[Mikeburkeable]

I was at this recording. It was at the Marquee Club in London. May or June 1965. The announcer was Humphrey Lyttelton who was one of Britain's best and most famous jazz musicians. It was a great session, though it only lasted 1/2 hour. My wife and I were sitting in the front row!

[fatblueserpentswells]

@Mikeburkeable no shit!~ thats incredible~~!

[Mikeburkeable]

@fatblueserpentswells You got THAT right!

[gilgamess]

@Mikeburkeable How wonderful you were able to attend! Did you exit at Mornington Crescent to see Lyttleton?

[Mikeburkeable]

@gilgamess You've obviously spent a short time in London. But NO. I didn't go to see Lyttelton in Mornington Crescent which is nowhere near where I went see Monk. Marquee Club in the West End of London, on Oxford Street.

[gilgamess]

@Mikeburkeable I've only spent a short time in London, but I've spent a long time listening to the radio panel show, "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue", which the late Humphrey Lyttleton hosted. On that show, there was a game called "Mornington Crescent", the gag being this was a hopelessly confusing strategy game with impenetrable rules. My comment was based on the show and not actual geography. Thanks for the directions though. I am envious you saw these legendary people in person!

[calennert]

@Mikeburkeable Amazing and wonderful.

[weeze123go]

@Mikeburkeable --wow that is remarkable and what a privledge!!

[Samuelfcampbell2003]

@Mikeburkeable

You witnessed to history in the making Yours Samuel !;*)

[pnomis]

@Mikeburkeable Are absolutely sure it was at the Marquee? I was at Chelsea College (in the Kings Road) and a few Jazz 625 editions including Monk were filmed there in, I think, 1965. Unless he recorded more than one edition, I am sure this was at Chelsea College. Simon Prager

[pnomis]

@Mikeburkeable Hi again. I've just listened to the last part and you are right. It was definitely recorded at the Marquee. However, I do remember a monk recording for the BBC at my College. There were also recordings of Buck Clayton (with Humph's band) and some others I think.

[johydee1]

@Mikeburkeable man, this was 2 years before I was born and you got to see it live. I really envy you. what an incredible musician!

[johydee1]

Respond to this video...  I dont know enough about who's who here, but that bass player is workin it!

[captiveww]

@Mikeburkeable You are so lucky. Good for you.

[PracticeMakesAwesome]

@Mikeburkeable holy awesome yo!

[BachnRoll100]

''But i can assure you he's as scrutable as you and me''

[donnyab]

@BachnRoll100

lol what a dick

[stefanpalen96]

Awsome pice played it in 6th grade-simplified of cocorse

[EMCEMITCH]

whatever happen to larry gales, the bassist---i never heard of him after this

[vip3r15]

The bass sound great!

[colemontelongo]

monk did so much acid and H and ganja, it didn't even hurt his playing though

[bboymango]

id say it amplified it ahah

[Mikeburkeable]

@colemontelongo I don't know know who told you that... Monk never did acid or Heroin. Maybe some pot. You're VERY misinformed. He was bi-polar which explained his introvert tendencies. Maybe you should read his biography, or at the very least watch the movie Straight No Chaser

[ThelMonkMan]

Great Video thanks for sharing. I remember so much about these MJ artists from the Melody Maker paper in the 60s. Pop (no X-factor type pop, just Kinks, Beatles, Stones..all class acts) at the front then Jazz towards the back of the paper with MJ, Trad...brilliant. So much easier now to share and listen to as money was tight in the 60s as a teenager, distribution was record shops only!

[KlavierPlaya]

Monk doesn't look like he's having a very good time.

[cavaleer]

He's having a blast. He's just always in the pocket so he looks like that.

[donnyab]

@KlavierPlaya

I think he was a major league introvert anyway so he's not going to be jumping all around the place smiling at everyone

[jazzmunky]

Rouse's solo - amazing groove! underated tenorman

[JITLOTW]

I love it !!!!

[Mikeguitarboy]

Introduction guy,

annoying. give the names and let them play, it'll say what needs to be

[yragntman]

@Mikeguitarboy - exactly - not only babbling away but standing right in front of Monk blocking the camera!! Oi. Brit TV production fail.

[Zeitgeist74]

Larry Gales, Ben Riley, and Charlie Rouse.......the best group to play with Monk, hands down! Sure, Art Blakey, Oscar Pettiford, and Coltrane played with Monk in various group settings, but the above-mentioned fellows were Monks best men for the job.

[yragntman]

@Zeitgeist74 - best group? good yes, I dig this group but best? Brilliant Corners band - Sonny Rollins, Max Roach, Paul Chambers and Ernie Henry was pretty pretty good. but really the best band was way under/not recorded - Trane, abdul-malik and roy haynes for months at 5 spot.

[orkavorn]

What year is this from please?

Sometime in the 60's?

[OopBopShBam]

Certainly after 1963 or since 1964.

Because since 1964 Larry Gales replaced Butch Warren ...

Other Monk fan, please correct my answer ;)

[RFranklinCarter]

London, England, in 1965

[setsuna1f1seiei]

@OopBopShBam My dad says that's correct!

[rorroboarder]

Me cagó...

[danderegil]

I wish JAZZ 625 could come back to life.

I'm not sure if the show was discontinued or if it's still on the air.. but they had the best artists to perform always.

Thanks for the upload OopBopShBam!

5 stars all the way :D

[gmosley609]

I am writing a paper in my jazz and popular music class and I watched this video and i loved it, I do however need to know- is the group called the Thelonious Monk Quartet? and where in Paris did they perform? Year? thanks if you know the answers to these questions

[jmsbk12345]

Larry Gales is amazing. I just love his playing.

[Morahman7vnNo2]

Booming Bass.

[BrewedinMarin]

bass player is KILLING it!!!!!!

[Zeitgeist74]

Oh, you ain't lyin', son----Larry Gales was HIGHLY underrated and underappreciated.

[xGutturaLoungex]

Did they stop playing right in the middle of the tune because that announcer showed up?

[skeleto]

Yes.

[jefflev13]

Thanks for posting - great stuff!

[alloathsburned]

what the fuck does that mean

[steveie986]

"The man of the monk he has cooked all four burners."

[donnyab]

@LADYBYRD7

僧侶の男性と彼は、すべての4つのバーナー調理しています (" The man of the monk he has cooked all four burners")....as the guy said two years ago...what the fuck does that mean :-)

[egggbeen]

@donnyab

means he's cookin man! :)

[Soulnik]

僧侶の男性と彼は、すべての4つのバーナー調理しています。