Palo Alto

As advertised, extraordinary!

An unheard concert by Monk and his great band (Monk, Charlie Rouse-tenor sax, Larry Gales-bass, and Ben Riley-drums) from '68. This approximately 47 minute show includes tunes like "Ruby My Dear", "Well You Needn't", "Epistrophy" and other compositions that Monk fans will recognize. Also here is a Monk solo piece, "Don't Blame Me", which gives this album some depth and puts Monk's style on good display. Recorded in good sound by the school janitor in exchange for tuning the piano (except for the bass being to far forward in the mix at times) at a Palo Alto high school, the band played this concert just before leaving to play a scheduled show in S.F. that same night. Monk and the band are in typically good form throughout this album with some very fine playing from all the band members. Monk's angular style of piano is well represented here as is Rouse's fine tenor sax playing. The rhythm section underlays everything here to great effect, letting Monk and Rouse explore the music. The sound is good/very good, with a nice period warmth that doesn't clutter up the nicely cleaned up sound even if the bass is too prominent at times. The 14 page booklet has a nice essay on the era, Monk, and the music, plus a couple of b&w photos. There's also a short essay by Danny Scher who was responsible for putting on the concert. The small poster (91/2" X 12") is also kind of nifty--a nice thing to include. The disc slips into a pocket in the tri-fold cardboard package that has pockets for the poster and the booklet. Monk fans will want this album in their Monk collection. If you're a Monk fan--get this.

I was interested in this from the moment I heard it. What surpassed my expectations was the sound. Since it was recorded in a high school auditorium, arranged by a 19 year old student and recorded by the janitor, I though it would be an audience recorded reel to reel. It's not. It's a stereo board/house tape. I see on the linear notes that there was some tape restoration, transfer and izotope mastering software was used. It's not modern day perfect, but clear, upfront and enjoyable. Great performance on top.

first cd arrived incredibly damaged but second CD was perfectly fine

Love it, love it, love it. Band is cooking...sound is great....and the backstory is the icing on the top! Thank you, Impulse! And much thanks to Mr. Scher and the anonymous/unknown janitor who recorded the experience!! Of course, thank you also to Thelonious, Jr. who has continued to keep the fires burning for Monk all these years. I am so grateful for all the recordings we already have, but I sure hope "new" finds continue to be unearthed for many more years!!! Go Monk Go!

Bought a copy each for my brother and sister. We all attended the rival school across town from Palo Alto HS, none of us attended this concert and regret it to this day. The album notes tell the amazing history of its genesis, which none of us had known. ‘Monk’ is played regularly in my PA home. I have been told that it happily accompanied my GA brother as he opened his Christmas gifts and continues to delight. My OR sister listens to it last thing in the evening to soothe. It was a serendipitous find as I wracked my brain to find their perfect gifts. We had loved the music of Thelonius Monk and this collection did not disappoint.

Say Hey - If you know Monk, you have heard these tunes before, with the possible exception of a solo piano performance of "I Love You Sweetheart of All My Dreams." However, the Palo Alto concert is highly worthy of a listen because of the intense swing of all concerned. Everybody sounds happy, inspired and improvising on a high level. A welcome addition to Monk's live (very live) recordings.

The story reads great in its bio and it’s what drew me in, but the quality and his playing are outstanding. More than just a novelty release, this is essential listening. The background is well worth reading although the font is nearly impossible to read in the cd case. Might even pick up the vinyl.

Pünktlich und alles in Ordnung - besten Dank !!!

A startling performance -- the entire quartet bring their "A" game. Spots of the recording are a touch rough, but it only adds to the charm of this magnificent set. I am very grateful to receive this, in the year 2020.

演奏がよく、ベスト的な選曲もとても気に入りました。一曲目の冒頭部分が流れただけで胸に迫るものがあります。

Pensavo che, nel presentare questo cd sul web e sulla carta stampata, prima della travagliata pubblicazione, il figlio del pianista T.S. Monk si fosse un po lasciato andare nel definirlo "il più bel concerto che abbia mai sentito di mio padre" essendo coinvolto oltre che affettivamente anche nella produzione del medesimo. Theloinious Monk è personaggio documentato piuttosto bene nelle sue apparizioni live, tanto in album ufficiali quanto in bootleg, ma questo concerto, del ottobre del 1968 presso la High School di Paolo Alto in California, in un periodo nel quale la creatività del pianista si era un po affievolita, così come le registrazioni ufficiali in studio - nel febbraio di quello stesso anno aveva terminato le registrazioni per l'album Columbia "Underground", apprezzato più per la stravagante copertina che per le novità (in realtà poche) musicali - è realmente qualche cosa di splendido. Il quartetto completato dal fido Charlie Rouse al sax tenore, - fantastico musicista oggigiorno peraltro dimenticato dai più - che in questa registrazione fa faville, Larry Gales al contrabbasso, che regala dei soli con l'utilizzo dell'archetto da incorniciare, ed un altro uomo di fiducia di Monk quale Ben Riley, che dietro ai tamburi "canta" assoli di rara bellezza, gira alla perfezione, forte anche dei quasi quattro anni di affiatamento, e ci regala realmente una performance di una bellezza e di una intensità ascoltati di rado. La scaletta del concerto è composta da alcuni fra i grandi classici dalla penna del pianista, quali Ruby My Dear, Well,'You Needn't, Blue Monk ed Epistrophy, più due performance solitarie di Monk, la adorata Don't Blame Me e il conclusivo encore I Love You Sweetheart Of All My Dreams...ma si potrebbe continuare ancora per molte righe a tessere lodi sperticate a questo cd, dall'ottima ripresa sonora all' interessantissimo ed esplicativo booklet, fino alla gradita sorpresa della riproduzione del poster del concerto! Album assolutamente obbligatorio per tutti gli amanti del jazz!!!

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