Hack Beat Scrap

[Monk’s] last studio recordings as a leader were made in November 1971 for the English Black Lion label, near the end of a worldwide tour with “The Giants of Jazz,” a group which included Dizzy Gillespie, Kai Winding, Sonny Stitt, Al McKibbon and Art Blakey. Bassist Al McKibbon, who had known Monk for over twenty years and played on his final tour in 1971, later said: “On that tour Monk said about two words. I mean literally maybe two words. He didn’t say ‘Good morning’, ‘Goodnight’, ‘What time?’ Nothing. Why, I don’t know. He sent word back after the tour was over that the reason he couldn’t communicate or play was that Art Blakey and I were so ugly.”

from Wikipedia

Monk is a master painter of sound. He transcends bad pianos, noisy bars, saccharine tones, uninspired rhythm sections and the passing of time. He is a transformer, turning whatever he likes into Thelonious Monk.

• Michael Zwerin