Only Monk
Only Monk | ||||
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Studio album by Steve Lacy | ||||
Released | 1987 | |||
Recorded | July 29–31, 1985 | |||
Genre | Jazz | |||
Length | 44:30 | |||
Label | Soul Note | |||
Producer | Giovanni Bonandrini | |||
Steve Lacy chronology | ||||
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Only Monk is the third album by Steve Lacy to be released on the Italian Soul Note label (following two releases on the related Black Saint label). It features solo performances of nine tunes written by Thelonious Monk by Lacy. It is the second solo album composed totally of Monk's compositions recorded by Lacy following Eronel (1979) and follows a tradition established on Lacy's second album Reflections (1958) and Epistrophy (1969).
Reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
The Penguin Guide to Jazz | [2] |
The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4 stars stating "Steve Lacy has long been one of the foremost interpreters of pianist Thelonious Monk's music. This set is a solo soprano saxophone recital in which Lacy digs into nine of Monk's compositions. Most of the interpretations are quite concise, with all but the seven-minute "Work" clocking in at under six minutes. As usual, Lacy shows great respect for the melodies, and his improvisations are built off of the themes rather than just the chord changes. The sparse setting allows the soprano master to utilize space effectively and to take his time. The overall results, which are certainly for selective tastes, are often fascinating.".[1] The Penguin Guide to Jazz compared this album with the later More Monk, stating that Only Monk was "more challenging and requires a closer acquaintance with the source material".[2]
Track listing
- "Evidence" – 3:42
- "Humph" – 3:29
- "Eronel" – 4:38
- "Pannonica" – 5:48
- "Little Rootie-Tootie" – 4:23
- "Misterioso" – 5:49
- "Work" – 7:16
- "Light Blue" – 4:18
- "Who Knows?" – 5:07
- All compositions by Thelonious Monk
- Recorded at Barigozzi Studio, Milan, Italy on July 29–31, 1985
Personnel
- Steve Lacy – soprano saxophone
References
- ^ a b Yanow, S. Allmusic Review accessed June 25, 2011
- ^ a b Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1996). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD (3rd ed.). Penguin. pp. 776–777. ISBN 978-0-14-051368-4.
- v
- t
- e
- Soprano Sax (1957)
- Reflections (1958)
- The Straight Horn of Steve Lacy (1960)
- Evidence (1961)
- Disposability (1965)
- Sortie (1966)
- Moon (1969)
- Epistrophy (1969)
- Journey Without End (1971)
- Mal Waldron with the Steve Lacy Quintet (1972)
- Axieme (1975)
- Trickles (1976)
- One-Upmanship (1977)
- Troubles (1979)
- Songs (1981)
- Ballets (1981)
- The Flame (1982)
- Only Monk (1985)
- Sempre Amore (1986)
- One Fell Swoop (1986)
- The Gleam (1986)
- Momentum (1987)
- The Window (1987)
- Paris Blues (1987)
- The Door (1988)
- More Monk (1989)
- Anthem (1989)
- Hot House (1990)
- Remains (1991)
- Revenue (1993)
- Vespers (1993)
- Communiqué (1994)
- Monk's Dream (1999)
- The Forest and the Zoo (1967)
- Hard Talk (1974)
- Clinkers (1977)
- Stamps (1977/78)
- The Way (1979)
- Capers (1979)
- Ballets (1980)
- Live at Dreher, Paris 1981 (1981)
- Prospectus (1982)
- Blinks (1983)
- Morning Joy (1986)
- Flim-Flam (1986)
- The Super Quartet Live at Sweet Basil (1987)
- Itinerary (1990)
- Live at Sweet Basil (1991)
- Spirit of Mingus (1991)
- Clangs (1992)
- I Remember Thelonious (1992)
- We See (1992)
- Three Blokes (1992)
- Let's Call This... Esteem (1993)
- 5 x Monk 5 x Lacy (1997)
- The Cry (1998)