Special guests trombonists Roswell Rudd and Max Perkoff with the trio perform the compositions of Thelonious Monk.

9 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Bebop, BLUES: Jazzy Blues



Details:
Monkâs Music Trio
featuring very special guests Roswell Rudd and Max Perkoff on Trombones
Chuck Bernstein, drums, Si Perkoff, piano; Sam Bevan, bass

Chuck Bernstein formed Monkâs Music Trio in August 1999. Initially, two purposes guided the creation of this group: To perform the compositions of Thelonious Monk and to showcase the talents of pianist Si Perkoff, who Bernstein considers the best interpreter of Monkâs music in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since then, the trio has released two critically acclaimed CDs, âHarmony Of Odd Numbers,â and âThink Of One.â

With the release of their third CD, the trio has expanded to a quintet for the recording âMonkâs Bones.â Bernstein tells the story: â...a sound kept coming into my consciousness, almost on a daily basis. It was the sound of two trombones playing Monkâs tunes with the trio. It wasnât just any two trombonists - specifically, it was Roswell Rudd and Max Perkoff.â

In the early 1960s Roswell Rudd and Steve Lacy created the first jazz group (other than Monkâs bands) to concentrate on Thelonious Monk compositions.  Rudd has become one of the worldâs leading modern and world music pioneers, performing at jazz festivals worldwide and at leading venues in New York City.  About the CD Roswell says:

âThelonious Monk was quite simply one of the greatest visionaries to ever pass through the planet Earth.  During his presence in the human community, he gave us an array of glimpses into the universe of possibility.  The musicians on this album are striving to navigate the course set by his sighting, if only to re-explore some of what he discovered.  Itâs a challenging adventure, but we have our hearts, minds, and ears open and no end of passion for this glorious work.  Wonât you join us?â

â...a trombonist of such sweeping power and majesty that he transcends all styles.â  - John Wilson, The New York Times

"Perkoffâs effervescent personality did positively affect both his and his colleagues' playing. He's relaxed on the 'bone, has a nice tone and doesn't try to play 64 notes per measure." - Phil Elwood - San Francisco Examiner

Reviews of Monkâs Music Trio

âThe first CD by San Francisco-based Monkâs Music Trio, Harmony of Odd Numbers, was one of the best jazz CDs of 2003.  The follow-up [Think Of One] is just as good - to put it simply, nobody does Monk better than these guys.â - Richard âDuckâ Baker, East Bay Express.

â...it is Bernsteinâs Monkish flavor with his oblique drum accents and a melodic notion of rhythm in both his accompaniment and four bar exchanges with Perkoff...Monkâs fans will appreciate this versatile conception of his tunes as well as the trioâs ability to avoid a note-for-note stylish rip off.â - Paula Edelstein, soundsoftimelessjazz.com

âCan somebody please bring this trio to Europe?  To adapt what Sonny Rollins said of a more pianistically idiosyncratic Monk specialist, does anybody realize how good these guys are?  Vivifying!â - Robert R. Calder, popmatters.com