‘Straight, No Chaser’, by Thelonious Monk
For all the people who supported me yesterday, here is a song by Monk. Many thanks for your heartwarming messages.
The Thelonious Monk Quartet with Charlie Rouse lasted eleven years. October 31st and November 1st, 1964 at the It Club in Los Angeles were just two more nights out of thousands for them, except when it comes to Monk, there were no ordinary nights.
Rouse in his sixth year with Monk had hit his stride, truly becoming Monk’s musical alter ego. Remarkably, drummer Ben Riley had joined the quartet at the beginning of 1964 and bassist Larry Gales had only logged in a month at the time of this taping; yet they already show the first signs of collective greatness on these evenings.
Monk was at a particular high point pianistically during this gig; in fact, he went into a Los Angeles studio and recorded the album ‘Solo Monk’ on the afternoons preceding and following the live taping.
Thelonious Monk - Piano
Charlie Rouse - Tenor Saxophone
Larry Gales - Bass
Ben Riley - Drums
