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It’s Monk’s Time is in many ways the least compromising of Monk’s Columbia records and the
polar
opposite of a record like
Criss Cross (1962) due to the variety – lengthy renditions of tunes, a couple of solo
performances, and a few obscure originals dusted off for the occasion. The session kicks off with
what appears to be a solo recording of “Lulu’s Back in Town,” only to evolve from clunky stride into a
full-blown quartet version after three minutes, approximating the way Monk approached live
performances. Immediately following is one of two pleasant solo readings, both of which feature the
relaxed stride and off-center rhythmic accents that Monk used so effectively when freed from the
rhythm section.
For once the standards are more interesting than the originals; no classic Monk
tunes are featured here, only some of Monk’s weaker compositions. The abrasive “Shuffle Boil”
never quite gets off the ground, and “Stuffy Turkey” and “Brake’s Sake” are uninteresting and
repetitive, respectively. However, the quartet finds inventive ways to pick through the changes and
the sidemen all get ample solo time, Monk thumping out chords in the background, sounding every
bit like he’s playing wearing oven mitts.
Surprisingly, the best of the original tunes wasn’t even on
the original LP; an inspired reworking of “Epistrophy” casts off the cacophonous horns of the version
on Monk’s Music for a smoother approach.
Not a great Monk record, but perhaps it has more to offer
for the listener who finds some of the other Columbia releases to be rehashes of former work.
For related reviews, see
Combing the Columbia/Legacy Catalog.
~ David Rickert
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Track Listing: 1. Lulu’s Back in Town 2. Memories of You 3. Stuffy Turkey 4. Brake’s Sake 5. Nice Work If You Can
Get It 6. Shuffle Boil 7. Epistrophy 8. Nice Work If You Can Get It (alt. take) 9. Shuffle Boil (alt. take).
Personnel: Thelonious Monk-piano; Charlie Rouse-tenor saxophone; Butch Warren-bass; Ben Riley-drums.
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