Solo - Reflections & Meditations On Monk

Solo trumpet sounds a bit dicey but Wadada Leo Smith pulls it of beautifully. I noticed the selections are more towards Monk's slower tempo compositions which seemed to be a wise choice for this concept. Three of the compositions are Wadada's own with the rest being Monk's. Having the music stripped to just solo trumpet it is often the fragments of the tunes whilst being played that just drift the melodies in"Ruby My Dear", "Crepuscule with Nellie", "Round Midnight" and the not often played early comp "Reflections" are outstanding in their interpretation but that is not to say that Wadada's compositions are any less either bringing quite an interesting balance to the album with perhaps "Monk and His Five Point Ring At The Five Spot Cafe" which gives a nudge to Monk's most renowned Live album, "Thelonious in Action" being my pick.If you know your Monk you should love hearing these masterful echoes provided my Smith's solo trumpet throughout but if you don't grab a copy of "Monk's Music" and "Genius Of Modern Music Volume 1" where the majority of the original compositions performed by Monk lay and work from there to gain a better grip and understanding to where Wadada is coming from with the concept to this album. Beautiful and different stuff.

This recording is not just versions of Monk tunes. It is really a response to Monk's music on Smith's terms. I appreciate how uncompromising it is. This is an album that calls for multiple listens./

Thank you Wadada. Your moans blow me through the Oklahoma prairie from SL, where Wynton and his cats laid out a reconstruction of Charles Ives’ America. Through Ft Gibson, where Lee Wiley tracks down pieces of her childhood. Past Cain’s Ballroom, where Ernie Fields whistles swing into the ears of Bob Wills. Between the spaces where Chetty gets lost. Thank you Wadada. Much grass.

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Extraordinary trumpet playing.

Wadada Leo Smith faces on this CD an almost impossible challenge, Monk to trumpet alone. We must recognize that it is something unexpected and the result can not be better. Wadada Leo Smith is undoubtedly in his woman moment, not only as an intrumentist, but as a musician. It is a CD that demands maximum attention from the listener but reaches incredible levels. It is pure Monk or if you prefer it is the essence of Monk multiplied by 10. Nitido, deep and essential, you certainly have to be familiar with Monk, with his silences ... Cd risked to the maximum that marked a before and after to understand the complexity of that genius that was Monk

Incredible. Takes the music of Monk to a higher level.

Wadada Leo Smith in a marvellous reimagining of Monk. Solo trumpet playing of a very high order. Read Adam Shatz's review in the NYRB: 'Smith elongates and intensifies Monk’s silences until they sound like his own. This transformation, far from betraying Monk, distills the lyricism, tenderness, and yearning at the heart of his melodic writing.'

Wadada Leo Smith se enfrenta en este CD a un reto casi imposible , Monk a trompeta solo. Hay que reconocer que se trata de algo inesperado y el resultado no puede ser mejor. Wadada Leo Smith esta sin duda en su mujer momento, no solo como intrumentista , sino como musico. Es un CD que exige una atencion maxima por parte del oyente pero alcanza cotas increibles. Es puro Monk o si lo prefieren es la esencia de Monk multiplicada por 10. Nitido, profundo y esencial, ciertamente tienes que estar familiarizado con Monk, con sus silencios...Cd arriesgado al maximo que marcara un antes y un despues para entender la complejidad de ese genio que fue MonkESENCIAS DEL MAS PURO MONK

Unfailing. The skill, the inspiration, the soul, the depth...all bring the listener to silence and wonder,