>Monk's stuff is really hard because he puts alot of strange notes in
>the chords.For example he may add a minor second
>next to any note. SOmetimes there is a third and minor third in the
>same chord.
>
>I frankly would not have wanted him to comp for me. I've heard that
>Miles told him "Don't ever comp while I'm playing".
>
>Some chord voicings are fine for solo piano or say playing the head
>of a tune but just create a lot of problems for others while they
>are trying to solo.
This clears up (I think) something I had noticed on the "Misterioso"
album: Monk comps for Charlie Rouse for the first 3 or 4 bars of Rouse's
solo than lays out (maybe to dance :) ) and only comes back in for his
own solo. I think it must have been tough to solo with him comping
since he plays so much with the time. I also noticed that if he was
messing with the time, his chords were pretty straight, and
vice versa. Maybe it would have been too much for the soloist to do
both at the same time.
Does anyone have any references of some analysis of Monk's style? I
haven't really seen anything around, but there must be something.
I'd like to get a better idea because most of the time when I hear others
play Monk tunes they sound kind of bland. It could be a style thing
or maybe they aren't playing with the sheer exuberance and joy that
Monk projected.
Karl Helmer
p.s. I was talking to my wife (a classical pianist) about tapping out
the time with ones's foot and she said that she had been taught Never
Never to tap since the foot should be free for the pedals. So I played
some clips of Monk playing from "Straight, No Chaser" for her!