How and by whom a piece of music is presented profoundly influences how it's heard. This would seem to be a truism, but it is one often contradicted. Case in point: a band begins playing a Duke Ellington standard and there's recognition and approval from the audience, the "I like Duke" effect. When this happens with a singer beginning "Satin Doll" the irony is lost. Ellington disliked those Johnny Mercer lyrics so much he rarely presented a vocal version of the piece himself. Which bring us to Thelonious Monk.
He never employed or recorded with a guitarist (save early bootlegged jam sessions with Charlie Christian and a big band with Howard Roberts) and his piano playing and arranging can hardly be called guitar-like. Hearing guitar play Monk's music is like hearing an orchestral version of a Wagner opera aria; it reveals a wholly different aspect of the music. While Monk's own versions put emphasis on the disjointed angularity and idiosyncrasies of the music, guitar interpretations bring out their lyrical, melodious side. Howard Alden is good at this, but until this CD, the only other guitarist with a knack for bringing out that side of Monk who devoted a whole album to it was Joshua Breakstone. Peter Bernstein's trio approach can be encapsulated in the title of the opening track: "Let's Cool One."
Like Ben Riley's Monk Legacy Band, which also employs a guitar (and no piano), this trio brings out the strong melodicism inherent in Monk's music. And Bernstein is a graceful guitarist who polishes the rough pianistic edges Monk gouged into his tunes, as can be heard on his solo version of "Monk's Mood." The trio pieces remain largely true to the tempos, an important part of Monk's conception, but bassist Doug Weiss and especially drummer Bill Stewart rile up the surface just enough to save these interpretations from being obsequiously polite.
By George Kanzler
January 6, 2009
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/monk-peter-bernstein-review-by-george-kanzler
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Cómo y quién presenta una pieza musical influye profundamente en cómo se escucha. Esto parece una obviedad, pero a menudo se contradice. Por ejemplo, si una banda empieza a tocar un estándar de Duke Ellington, el público reconoce y aprueba el efecto "me gusta Duke". Cuando esto ocurre con un cantante que comienza "Satin Doll", se pierde la ironía. A Ellington le disgustaba tanto esa letra de Johnny Mercer que rara vez presentaba él mismo una versión vocal de la pieza. Lo que nos lleva a Thelonious Monk.
Nunca empleó ni grabó con un guitarrista (salvo las primeras jam sessions pirateadas con Charlie Christian y una big band con Howard Roberts) y su forma de tocar el piano y de hacer los arreglos difícilmente puede calificarse de guitarrera. Escuchar a la guitarra tocar la música de Monk es como oír una versión orquestal de un aria de ópera de Wagner; revela un aspecto totalmente diferente de la música. Mientras que las propias versiones de Monk hacen hincapié en la angulosidad desarticulada y la idiosincrasia de la música, las interpretaciones con guitarra sacan a relucir su lado lírico y melódico. Howard Alden es bueno en esto, pero hasta este CD, el único otro guitarrista con habilidad para sacar ese lado de Monk que le dedicaba un álbum entero era Joshua Breakstone. El enfoque del trío de Peter Bernstein puede resumirse en el título de la pista inicial: "Let's Cool One".
Al igual que la Monk Legacy Band de Ben Riley, que también emplea una guitarra (y ningún piano), este trío saca a relucir el fuerte melodicismo inherente a la música de Monk. Y Bernstein es un elegante guitarrista que pule las ásperas aristas pianísticas que Monk imprimía a sus melodías, como puede escucharse en su versión en solitario de "Monk's Mood". Las piezas del trío se mantienen en gran medida fieles a los tempos, una parte importante de la concepción de Monk, pero el bajista Doug Weiss y especialmente el baterista Bill Stewart agitan la superficie lo suficiente como para salvar estas interpretaciones de ser servilmente educadas.
Por George Kanzler
6 de enero de 2009
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/monk-peter-bernstein-review-by-george-kanzler
Tracks:
1 - Let's Cool One
2 - Pannonica
3 - Work
4 - Brilliant Corners
5 - In Walked Bud
6 - Monk's Mood
7 - Well You Needn't
8 - Bemsha Swing
9 - Played Twice
10 - Ruby, My Dear
11 - Blues 5 Spot
12 - Reflections
Credits:
Bass – Doug Weiss
Composed By – Thelonious Monk
Design – Christina Mercando
Drums – Bill Stewart
Guitar – Peter Bernstein
Liner Notes – Ira Gitler
Producer, Mastered By – Greg Scholl
Recorded By, Mixed By – Jeff Hoffman
Recorded at Mo Pitkin's House of Satisfaction and Small's Jazz Club.
Label Xanadu Records – XA-0500-2
Released: 2008
Genre: Jazz
Style: Bop, Contemporary Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/6248813-Peter-Bernstein-Trio-Monk
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