Search - Thelonious Monk :: San Francisco Holiday

Thelonious live, and at the top of his game

Brad Christensen | Peoria, AZ United States | 01/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Of the 16 Thelonious Monk CDs I own, San Francisco Holiday is my favorite. It is a collection from four live performances between 1958 and 1961, a period when Monk was at his absolute best. And what a collection it is, in terms tunes selected, his band members, and overall length (69 minutes). Swinging, enthusiastic and inspired versions of "In Walked Bud," "Blue Monk," and "Rhythm-A-Ning" from a concert at Town Hall in New York with Charlie Rouse on sax, Sam Jones on bass and Arthur Taylor on drums. My favorite, though, is "Bye-Ya/Epistrophy," which is nearly 12 minutes of pure magic from the Five Spot in NYC featuring Art Blakey on drums, Johnny Griffin on sax and Ahmed Abdul-Malik on bass. Three tunes from a performance at San Francisco's Black Hawk with a trio of horns (Joe Gordon on trumpet and Rouse and Harold Land on sax) and three from a concert at Theatre L'Olympe in Paris round out this wonderful CD."

Overlooked Gem

k.krable | stanfoca | 06/25/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This one fails to make most lists of Monk's best, but it is a hidden treasure. Strongly recommended for a new-to-Monker because it includes excellent examples of Monk with each of two very different sax players: Charlie Rouse and Johnny Griffin. Both are in top form. Furthermore, the drumming on this album (nothing against Billy Higgins but especially by Art Taylor) is spectacular. Favorite track (fittingly): Bye-ya."