Greg Lewis Organ Monk: American Standard

For the past few years, B3er Greg Lewis has been leading a trio celebrating the Thelonious Monk songbook, having shed intriguing lights on the jazz icons music. This time around, along with Ron Jackson/g and Jeremy Bean Clemons/dr, he takes a different route. He adds some horns in the names of Riley Mullins/tp and Reggie Woods/ts for most of the pieces and, instead of songs composed by Monk, he delves into standards that the pianist had recorded during his career. Interesting idea, and Lewis captures the idiosyncrasies and joyful anarchy that came from Monk’s brain and fingers to perfection. Material such as “Liza” or “Nice Work If You Can Get It” is treated as anything BUT “Standard” in Monk’s world of jagged angles and prismatic harmonies. Woods has a wonderfully beefy tone on “Lulu’s Back In Town”  while Mullens is sweet and clear as he works through “I Should Care”. Drums and B3 coalesce on “Don’t Blame Me” while Jackson Pollock makes an audible entrance on “Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.” Lots to love on this clever idea and treatment.

www.greglewismusic.com

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