MONK’S MOOD…Sphere: The Complete Live At Umbria Jazz

After the death of jazz giant Thelonius Monk, alumni Charlie Rouse/ts, Ben Riley/dr and  Buster Williams/b joined forces with pianist Kenny Barron to deliver all of the material from the 1988 Umbria Jazz fest, and it’s a delight. Rouse is in excellent sound and tone on pieces like “Trinke, Trinkle” , and Barron wisely tries not to “out Monk” Monk during his comping and soloing, as on “Saud’s Song” and “Deception”. The band really stretches out on “If I Should Lose You” and the band carries Monk’s baton on “Tokudi”. A tip of the bopper’s beret.

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