MONK'estra Plays John Beasley

John Beasley

Label: Mack Avenue Records
Released: 2020
Views: 639

Track Listing

Steve-O; Sam Rivers; Monk's Mood; Donna Lee; Song For Dub; Five Spot; Implication; Intermission; Masekela; Rhythm-A-Ning/Evidence; Off Minor; Be.YOU.tiful; Locomotive; Come Sunday.

Personnel

Additional Personnel / Information

Saxophones/Woodwinds: Chris Lewis; Tom Peterson; Tom Luer. Trombones: Ryan Dragon; Ido Meshulam; Steve Hughes. Trumpets/Flugelhorns: James Ford; Rashawn Ross. Synthesizer: Steve Tavaglione.

Album Description

Over the course of two albums, bandleader/composer/arranger John Beasley has reimagined Thelonious Monk’s iconic compositions through his inventive, versatile MONK’estra – a big band able to deftly navigate the legend’s eccentricities from a variety of perspectives, from boisterous swing to raucous funk to Afro-Cuban explosiveness. MONK’estra, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 each garnered a pair of GRAMMY® Award nominations, alongside widespread critical acclaim. Beasley veers off in new directions on his stunning third album in the series, MONK’estra Plays John Beasley. As the title implies, this time out the band shifts focus to its fearless leader’s own estimable compositions and piano playing, alongside a quartet of Monk classics and a tune apiece by Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker.