As the fourth volume of
Wynton Marsalis' ongoing
Standard Time project, as well as the first volume of his planned eight-disc series Swinging into the 2,
Marsalis Plays Monk arrives with some baggage -- but it isn't as great as the baggage that comes with tackling the compositions of
Thelonious Monk, one of the greatest and most idiosyncratic composers in jazz history.
Marsalis takes two different tactics to distinguish himself. He avoids the obvious choices, the songs that have long been part of every jazz musician's repertoire -- no "'Round Midnight" or "Well, You Needn't" will be heard here -- and focuses on a selection of 14 tunes that illustrate the complexity and diversity of
Monk's music. Secondly,
Marsalis decided to give all these songs clean, direct arrangements, which makes this music more accessible. To some listeners, it may be a little disconcerting to hear the rough edges sanded away, but these precise arrangements are quite engaging in their own right, demonstrating the versatility of
Monk's compositions.
Marsalis might not offer anything new, but with his stellar supporting band -- including tenor saxophonists
Walter Blanding and
Victor Goines, alto saxophonist
Wessell Anderson, trombonist
Wycliffe Gordon, pianist
Eric Reed, bassists
Ben Wolfe and
Reginald Veal, and drummer
Herlin Riley -- he's made an enjoyable classicist jazz LP that happens to be an affectionate tribute to a true master. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine