Straight No Chaser [Soundtrack]

Straight No Chaser [Soundtrack]

ASIN: B0000658OZ

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Thelonious Monk stands as one of the great, oblique giants of 20th-century jazz. And while a single disc can never hope to encompass his triumphant art and eccentric, ultimately tragic personal life, this soundtrack offers up considerably more than merely a sketch of Monk's unvarnished genius. Launching from a sound bite ("Now I'm famous--ain't that a bitch?!") that tips listeners to the pianist-composer's troubled relationship with his own legacy, this anthology actually expands on the film (which centers around a trove of long-lost mid-'60s European tour footage). It offers up key studio and live recordings, a pair of rare, private solo performances ("Panonica" and a typically playful cover of "Lulu's Back in Town"), sprinkled with spare interview excerpts by Monk Jr. and sax player Charlie Rouse, a frequent late-'60s collaborator and member of the legendary octet featured here in three rare live European performances of "Epistrophy," "Evidence," and "I Hear You." Now expanded with the full, 11-plus-minute 1967 New York studio recording of the title track and newly annotated liner notes, this soundtrack serves as a compelling introduction to Monk's truly unique musical legacy--and, along with Bird, a tribute to executive producer Clint Eastwood's dedication to America's rich jazz history. --Jerry McCulley

Tracks:

Straight No Chaser (And Opening Narration)
Pannonica
Trinkle, Tinkle
Ugly Beauty/Rehearsal
Ugly Beauty
Epistrophy
Evidence
I Mean You (Stickball)/Rehearsal And Performance
Lulu's Back In Town
Don't Blame Me
Sweetheart Of All My Dreams
'Round Midnight

Customer Reviews:

monk.......2000-08-22

This could easily be the best collection of Monk songs that I have ever heard. It is a must to any jazz collection.

Average customer rating:

What A Soundtrack To A Movie Should Be..
A bit uneven, but some nice stuff.
Unissued tune by the Prophet : essential,of course !

Straight No Chaser
Thelonious Monk
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000658OZ
Release Date: 2002-04-16

Tracks:

Straight, No Chaser
Pannonica
Trinkle, Tinkle
Ugly Beauty (Rehearsal)
Ugly Beauty
Epistrophy
Evidence
I Mean You (Stickball)
Lulu's Back In Town
Don't Blame Me
Sweetheart Of All My Dreams
'Round Midnight
Straight, No Chaser (Bonus Track)

Amazon.com

Thelonious Monk stands as one of the great, oblique giants of 20th-century jazz. And while a single disc can never hope to encompass his triumphant art and eccentric, ultimately tragic personal life, this soundtrack offers up considerably more than merely a sketch of Monk's unvarnished genius. Launching from a sound bite ("Now I'm famous--ain't that a bitch?!") that tips listeners to the pianist-composer's troubled relationship with his own legacy, this anthology actually expands on the film (which centers around a trove of long-lost mid-'60s European tour footage). It offers up key studio and live recordings, a pair of rare, private solo performances ("Panonica" and a typically playful cover of "Lulu's Back in Town"), sprinkled with spare interview excerpts by Monk Jr. and sax player Charlie Rouse, a frequent late-'60s collaborator and member of the legendary octet featured here in three rare live European performances of "Epistrophy," "Evidence," and "I Hear You." Now expanded with the full, 11-plus-minute 1967 New York studio recording of the title track and newly annotated liner notes, this soundtrack serves as a compelling introduction to Monk's truly unique musical legacy--and, along with Bird, a tribute to executive producer Clint Eastwood's dedication to America's rich jazz history. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

What A Soundtrack To A Movie Should Be.. .......2006-01-06

The musings of Monk throughout this CD harks back to the movie which was much more than a serious look at the man by Clint Eastwood, but one of the best jazz DVD's(my opinion)..This CD is chock full of unreleased gems from the great Monk, with the majority from the mid 60's and some earlier material.
It stands a dual purpose..Alone it is a worthy way into the man since it features versions of his well known tunes and for the Monk fan the unreleased nuggets like all his variations on a single theme, essential.
The additional bonus track of "Straight No Chaser" is a nice way to close things out.

A bit uneven, but some nice stuff........2005-10-25

The soundtrack to the film "Straight No Chaser", this album (not to be confused with the album TITLED "Straight No Chaser") cobbles together a number of pieces-- several of which are previously unreleased-- from Monk's career. While much of the album is intriguing and exciting (particularly the octet sessions), the material lacks any real binding ties-- quite honestly, it feels like what it is-- a collection of snippets taken during someone's career.

The majority of the material is drawn from octet shows in the fall of 1967 in Europe-- Monk's longtime working band of tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse, bassist Larry Gales and drummer Ben Riley was further augmented by four additional horns-- alto Phil Woods, second tenor Johnny Griffin, trumpeter Ray Copeland and trombonist Jimmy Cleveland. Set closer "Epistrophy" gets a fairly standaard reading, with Rouse and the leader both providing angular solos that stick close to the theme. A fractured reading of "Evidence" follows-- most intriguing to hear Griffin's warm and round tone soloing over Monk rather than Rouse's typically dry sound. Mind you, when Rouse does take a solo, he trumps everyone with a masterful performance. "I Mean You" gets aired out with theme by horns and a lovely piano solo by Monk. A pair of solo piano tracks from the following winter-- "Don't Blame Me" and "Sweetheart of All My Dreams"-- provide additional value to the set. Again, they show how Monk looks to the past for his style-- shades of stride masters but also Ellington come forth.

Also of interest is two performances from the home of Nica de Koenigswater recorded in 1956-- "Pannonica" and standard "Lulu's Back in Town". The former, dedicated to the hostess, gets a moody reading with Monk's playing astonishingly lovely. The latter gets a full stridish workout-- Monk's love of stride pianist was obvious, particularly in his later solo piano work. This is one of the few examples of this influence being loud and clear in the '50s in his work.

Among the handful of other tracks are three previously released-- the bonus track "Straight No Chaser" (from the album of the same name), "Ugly Beauty" (from "Underground"), and "Trinkle Tinkle" (from "Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane"). All three are superb and valuable performances, but are widely available to fans. The remainder is by and large abridged and edited performances and rehearsals with narrations over them-- the abridgement is a shame, particularly in the case of a downright fiery and upbeat take of "'Round Midnight".

All in all, its a reasonable disc-- of decent value to a fan, but definitely for the converted only.

Unissued tune by the Prophet : essential,of course !.......2002-06-27

This is the soundtrack of "straight,no chaser",a film directed by Charlotte Zwerin,and produced by...Clint Eastwood. Yes. This guy is a true jazz lover.This fantastic movie,made of archives,let us see Thelonious playing,of course,but also in his every day life.This soundtrack is mostly made of unissued tunes;only "trinkle,tinkle" ,with Coltrane,was issued before.The most amazing tunes here are Monk's solos: "Pannonica",first,written for Baronness Nica De Koenigswarter;recorded at Nica's home,NYC,September 1956,this is a great version of this melancholic ballad."Lulu's back in town" comes from Fats Waller's repertoire,and shows Monk as a top stride piano player.Monk loved to play this tune;he loved to play old popular tunes ("just a gigolo","I'm getting sentimental over you","there's danger in your eyes,cherie","sweetheart of all my dreams"...).He's majestuous when he plays these tunes.In this version of "Lulu",he combines his style,the old stride playing and some Jimmy Yancey's touches.It gives an intensively swinging result."don't blame me" was recorded in Atlanta,1967.This version is very close to the gigantic Columbia version;very short,because there's no reason to play many choruses on this beautiful melody: everything can be said in two or three minutes."Sweetheart of all my dreams" was played at the Village Vanguard,1968;another very old tune,another very short piece,another masterpiece of stride and swing;I love Monk,whatever he's playing,but he really makes me mad when he tickles on these old romances.He recorded a much longer,and outstanding version of this tune in his London 1971 recordings.The other tunes are quartet or octet pieces.This is surely not your priority,if you start to listen to Monk;some twenty albums have to be bought before this one.But if you're mad about this guy,and specially about Monk's solo pieces,you can't miss it.

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music