By the time of this 1963 concert in Tokyo (recorded for TV in mono), Thelonious Monk was at the peak of his popularity, signed to a major label (Columbia) and with a regular working quartet with tenor saxist Charlie Rouse and Frankie Dunlop, with bassist Butch Warren being the only new member from his acclaimed Monk’s Dream album. Here, Monk gives a reflective solo rendition of :”Just A Gigolo” with a rich mix of stride and prismatic colors, while his solos on pieces like “Epistrophy” is a dark bopper. The team really slows down for “Blue Monk” and Rouse is in fervent from on the kinetic read of “Evidence” that bounces like a ricocheting shootout.
Some people complain that Monk didn’t “grow” after a certain point, but let me ask you, did Mozart?