Miles Davis > ‘Round Midnight
Composed by Thelonious Monk

There are 25 different versions of ‘Round Midnight on my iTunes (11 by Monk) and it’s really hard to pick the best one to end Thelonious Week. So, funnily enough I picked my favorite.

Miles had a more famous recording from the same year (1955) and at least seven more from other sessions over the years. But here the whole band (Miles - trumpet, John Coltrane - tenor saxophone , Red Garland - piano, Paul Chambers - bass, Philly Joe Jones - drums) was looser (they were squeezing a contractually demanded last album for Prestige) and just played the thing.

Thelonious Week #4 
Legends of the Trumpet #2
Ballads #9
Standards #7
Covers #32

NRBQ > Little Rootie Tootie
Composed by Thelonious Monk

There are so many great versions of Monk’s tunes that it’s hard to limit myself, and I didn’t really want to have two from the same album. But I couldn’t resist posting the most unlikely cover (if you don’t know Terry Adams) in my collection. (Written for Monk Junior, by the way.)

Thelonious Week #4 
Legends of Rock #6 
Covers #31

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

Dr. John > Blue Monk
Composed by Thelonious Monk

When I posted Blue Monk (by Hank Jones) in last week’s ‘Best of’, I wasn’t thinking of Thelonious Week. And usually I wouldn’t post another version of the same composition, but Mac Rebennack’s version was so distinctive, so New Orleans, so Dr. John, I couldn’t help myself.

Thelonious Week #2 
Legends of the Piano #8 
Covers #29

Thelonious Monk > Ruby My Dear
Composed by Thelonious Monk

In honor of next week’s Jazz at Lincoln Center program, Kathleen Loves Music is rocking the house with a week of Monk compositions. First up, maybe his most romantic ballad, in its first recording by the man himself. It’s got all his usual twists and turns, but you can’t help but sing along with the gorgeous melody.

Thelonious Week #1 
Legends of the Piano #5 
Ballads #8
Standards #6