"This is the second Jazzland album by the happy quintet led by the free-swinging tenor sax team of Johnny Griffin and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. It also marks one of the extremely rare occasions (I can think of only one other - except of course those made by the composer himself) one which an album has been entirely devoted to the music of Thelonious Monk.
"The rareness of such a tribute to Monk's writing is actually not too hard to understand, for the truth is that, beyond a very few often-attempted exceptions, Thelonious's numbers are regarded by most musicians as somewhat too tough to be readily tacked. But this brash, robust and fearless group is certainly a logical choice for the job - both because Lock and Griff refuse to consider -anything- too tough for them, and because they are musically and emotionall closely in tune with Monk's music. As you might expect, there is nothing at all pretentious here. There is instead a strong cutting-through to the warm, earthy, deeply blues-based and frequently witty spirit that lies at the foundation of Thelonious's works.
"The idea for the album originally emerged from the fact that several Monk tunes had gradually become part of the quintet's working repertoire. In large part this was due to the great fondness for this music felt by Griffin (who had been featured with Monk's quartet during most of 1958) and also to a realization of just how apt this material was for them. 'There is a certain rhythmic freedom in almost all his compositions that makes them ideal for us,' Johnny notes, 'since above all we always try to generate a feeling of freedom with this group.'
"Among their 'regular' numbers here are an extended treatment of Monk's longtime theme, 'Epistrophy', and the tune best known as 'I Mean You' - which they insist on calling by what Johnny informs us was its original title: 'Stickball'. There are also two ballads - 'Round Midnight' and 'Ruby, My Dear' - as solo showcases for Griffin and Davis respectively.
"The quintet, which has received wide acclaim since its inception in May 1960, draws much of its strength from the almost uncanny rapport between its two free-blowing co-leaders. Both of course had previously established strong individual reputations with groups of their own (and with earlier backgrounds including Lockjaw's service with Count Basie's band in the early '50s and Johnny's stints with Art Blakey and Monk). Their fine rhythmic support comes from bassist Larry Gales and drummer Ben Riley and, in particular, the very blues-inspired and thoroughly swinging piano of Junior Mance." (Chris Albertson. From the liner notes.)
Performers: Johnny Griffin (t-sx), Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (t-sx), Junior Mance (pi), Larry Gales (bs), Ben Riley (dr)
A1. In Walked Bud
A2. Well, You Needn't
A3. Ruby, My Dear
A4. Rhythm-A-Ning
B1. Epistrophy
B2. 'Round Midnight
B3. Stickball (I Mean You)
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