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Thelonius Monk's Misterioso: A Live Jazz Masterpiece
Thelonius Monk was one of the most influential and innovative jazz pianists of the 20th century. His style was unique, complex, and often challenging, but also full of humor, beauty, and swing. In 1958, he recorded a live album at the Five Spot Cafà in New York with his quartet, featuring tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin, bassist Ahmed Abdul-Malik, and drummer Roy Haynes. The album was called Misterioso, after one of Monk's original compositions.
Misterioso captures the energy and excitement of Monk's live performance, as well as the interaction and chemistry between the musicians. The album consists of six tracks, ranging from blues to ballads to bebop. Monk's piano playing is brilliant and inventive, creating angular melodies, dissonant harmonies, and rhythmic surprises. Griffin's saxophone is fiery and expressive, matching Monk's intensity and creativity. Abdul-Malik and Haynes provide a solid and swinging foundation, supporting and complementing the soloists.
The album opens with "Nutty", a catchy tune based on the chord changes of "I Got Rhythm". Monk and Griffin trade solos, displaying their virtuosity and humor. The next track is "Blues Five Spot", a slow blues that showcases Monk's bluesy side. He plays with a lot of space and feeling, while Griffin adds some soulful phrases. "Let's Cool One" is a medium-tempo bop number that features some of Monk's trademark phrases and chords. Griffin plays a spirited solo that builds up to a climax. The fourth track is "In Walked Bud", a tribute to Monk's friend and fellow pianist Bud Powell. The tune is based on the chord changes of "Blue Skies" and has a catchy melody that Monk embellishes with his characteristic twists and turns. Griffin plays a lyrical solo that contrasts with Monk's angularity.
The fifth track is "Just a Gigolo", a standard that Monk plays solo. He transforms the familiar melody into his own personal expression, using chromaticism, syncopation, and dynamics. The album closes with "Misterioso", a mysterious and haunting tune that Monk composed in 1948. The tune has a simple melody that Monk repeats over a modal chord progression. Griffin plays a modal solo that explores different scales and modes over the chords. The tune ends with a fade-out, leaving the listener wanting more.
Misterioso is one of the first successful live recordings of Monk's music, and one of his best albums. It showcases his genius as a composer, pianist, and bandleader, as well as the talent and versatility of his quartet. It is a jazz masterpiece that deserves to be heard by anyone who loves music.
The album was recorded on August 7, 1958, during Monk's second residency at the Five Spot CafÃ. The previous year, he had made his breakthrough at the same venue with a different quartet, featuring John Coltrane on saxophone, Wilbur Ware on bass, and Shadow Wilson on drums. That quartet was not recorded due to contractual issues, but their legendary performances attracted a lot of attention and acclaim for Monk. In 1958, Monk returned to the Five Spot with a new quartet, featuring Griffin, Abdul-Malik, and Haynes. Griffin had joined Monk's band earlier that year, after Coltrane left to rejoin Miles Davis. Griffin was a young and talented saxophonist who had played with Lionel Hampton and Art Blakey. He had a fast and aggressive style that contrasted with Monk's more deliberate and sparse approach. Abdul-Malik was a Sudanese-American bassist who had a background in classical and Middle Eastern music. He had a deep and resonant tone that suited Monk's harmonic explorations. Haynes was a veteran drummer who had played with Lester Young and Charlie Parker. He had a crisp and precise technique that provided a steady rhythm for Monk's unpredictable phrases.
The album was produced by Orrin Keepnews, who was the co-founder of Riverside Records and Monk's producer since 1955. Keepnews had a close relationship with Monk and respected his artistic vision. He also helped Monk overcome his career difficulties by securing him recording contracts, booking gigs, and promoting his music. Keepnews decided to record Monk's live performance at the Five Spot because he felt that Monk played more distinctly and expressively in front of an audience than in a studio. He also wanted to capture the atmosphere and excitement of the club, which was packed with fans, critics, musicians, and celebrities every night. Keepnews used a portable tape recorder and two microphones to record the show. He later edited the tapes and selected six tracks for the album.
The album's title and cover art were chosen to reflect Monk's image as an enigmatic and challenging artist. The word "misterioso" means mysterious or mystifying in Italian and Spanish. It also refers to one of Monk's compositions, which was included on the album. The cover art featured a painting by Giorgio de Chirico, an Italian surrealist painter who influenced Monk's aesthetic. The painting, called The Seer, depicts a mannequin head in front of an empty street with classical buildings. The painting evokes a sense of mystery, loneliness, and nostalgia, similar to Monk's music.
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