Very interesting to see Monk at work here.
Tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse solos very strongly after the melody is established and Monk sculpts a very amusing accompaniment behind him. At 1 minute 45 seconds, the camera work allows you to see the sculptor at work behind Rouse using wide piano intervals and jagged silences as his materials.
For the last 90 seconds of Rouse's solo Monk stands up and does a shuffle and stagger dance away from the piano and lets the band stroll, so that he can appreciate the way they are swinging.
He somehow intuits when Rouse is getting ready to finish and seats himself so he can start his own solo the instant he stops.
Lots of space, cracked intervals and body English during Monk's solo. Monk gets the piano to ring and chime.
Butch Warren is the bassist here and Frankie Dunlop is the drummer.
My Trusted MOGs
Wow. I see what you mean. In the video, seeing him play makes him seem even freer, more creative than not being able to see him would. He takes the 12-bar form out into his own orbit without violating it, and, eccentric as it is, is architecturally beautiful.
My Trusted MOGs
wow again! beautiful moment ...