Charlie Haden & Hank Jones > Hymn Medley
Composed by Anonymous
Both Charlie and Hank made their reps as ensemble players, but, unusual for a bassist, Charlie fell in love with duet recordings in the 70s. To my ears this one of his is right at the peak.
Charlie Haden Duets Week #1
Legends of the Bass #2
Legends of the Piano #6
Ballad #20
Duet #2
Hank Jones > Monk’s Mood
Composed by Thelonious Monk
A story behind the song: As we were preparing this track for a comeback album, Hank Jones told me how he’d heard this composition before Monk recorded it. Monk composed, but he didn’t read or write music. He asked Hank over to his Upper West Side apartment to transcribe the musical notation for Monk’s publisher.
To my ears, Hank brought out everything that was sweet in Monk’s music, not a quality we usually hear in Thelonious.
Thelonious Week #3
Legends of the Piano #6
Cover #30
Ballad #11
Hank Jones > Blue Monk
Composed by Thelonious Monk
Hank is usually referred to as “elegant” but he swings as hard as anyone. But, I have to say, I just love the way he makes Monk just, ah, smoooooth.
