[.ca] Straight No Chaser: Original M

From Amazon.com:
Thelonious Monk stands as one of the great, oblique giants of 20th-century jazz. And while a single disc can never hope to encompass his triumphant art and eccentric, ultimately tragic personal life, this soundtrack offers up considerably more than merely a sketch of Monk's unvarnished genius. Launching from a sound bite ("Now I'm famous--ain't that a bitch?!") that tips listeners to the pianist-composer's troubled relationship with his own legacy, this anthology actually expands on the film (which centers around a trove of long-lost mid-'60s European tour footage). It offers up key studio and live recordings, a pair of rare, private solo performances ("Panonica" and a typically playful cover of "Lulu's Back in Town"), sprinkled with spare interview excerpts by Monk Jr. and sax player Charlie Rouse, a frequent late-'60s collaborator and member of the legendary octet featured here in three rare live European performances of "Epistrophy," "Evidence," and "I Hear You." Now expanded with the full, 11-plus-minute 1967 New York studio recording of the title track and newly annotated liner notes, this soundtrack serves as a compelling introduction to Monk's truly unique musical legacy--and, along with Bird, a tribute to executive producer Clint Eastwood's dedication to America's rich jazz history. --Jerry McCulley

Unissued tune by the Prophet : essential,of course !:
This is the soundtrack of "straight,no chaser",a film directed by Charlotte Zwerin,and produced by...Clint Eastwood. Yes. This guy is a true jazz lover.This fantastic movie,made of archives,let us see Thelonious playing,of course,but also in his every day life.This soundtrack is mostly made of unissued tunes;only "trinkle,tinkle" ,with Coltrane,was issued before.The most amazing tunes here are Monk's solos: "Pannonica",first,written for Baronness Nica De Koenigswarter;recorded at Nica's home,NYC,September 1956,this is a great version of this melancholic ballad."Lulu's back in town" comes from Fats Waller's repertoire,and shows Monk as a top stride piano player.Monk loved to play this tune;he loved to play old popular tunes ("just a gigolo","I'm getting sentimental over you","there's danger in your eyes,cherie","sweetheart of all my dreams"...).He's majestuous when he plays these tunes.In this version of "Lulu",he combines his style,the old stride playing and some Jimmy Yancey's touches.It gives an intensively swinging result."don't blame me" was recorded in Atlanta,1967.This version is very close to the gigantic Columbia version;very short,because there's no reason to play many choruses on this beautiful melody: everything can be said in two or three minutes."Sweetheart of all my dreams" was played at the Village Vanguard,1968;another very old tune,another very short piece,another masterpiece of stride and swing;I love Monk,whatever he's playing,but he really makes me mad when he tickles on these old romances.He recorded a much longer,and outstanding version of this tune in his London 1971 recordings.The other tunes are quartet or octet pieces.This is surely not your priority,if you start to listen to Monk;some twenty albums have to be bought before this one.But if you're mad about this guy,and specially about Monk's solo pieces,you can't miss it.

• Straight, No Chaser \oAnd Opening Narration\c - Thelonious Monk Quartet
• Pannonica - Thelonious Monk
• Trinkle, Tinkle - Thelonious Monk Quartet
• Ugly Beauty/Rehearsal - Thelonious Monk Quartet
• Ugly Beauty - Thelonious Monk Quartet
• Epistrophy - Thelonious Monk
• Evidence - Thelonious Monk
• I Mean You (Stickball) \oRehearsal and Performance\c - Thelonious Monk
• Lulu's Back in Town - Thelonious Monk
• Don't Blame Me - Thelonious Monk
• Sweetheart of All My Dreams - Thelonious Monk
• 'Round Midnight - Thelonious Monk Quartet
• Straight, No Chaser \o*\c - Thelonious Monk Quartet