Barely Following Monk
Henry Butler played last night in the Nelson Music room at Duke University. The solo Jazz piano concert was part of the Following Monk series, celebrating Thelonious Monk’s 90th birthday on October 10th. Monk was born in Rocky Mount, though didn’t stay long. He was known for the sparse voicings in his left hand.
Mr. Butler started the show with a couple of Monk evoking tunes, but in homage to Monk’s short stay in Rocky Mount, Butler soon left Tribute Town and began a heavy handed program more in the villages of McCoy Tyner and Oscar Peterson. In honor of the style, I’ve created a Big Handed, Old School, Jazz Pianists Who Stomp Their Left Feets station on Pandora.
The show was great and warmly received, but 90 minutes was enough for me. Great Jazz doesn’t always require foot tapping to 4/4 time.