Album: An Open Letter To Thelonious /  Ellis Marsalis Quartet /  11 tracks /  Jazz Standards

 

Reviewed by Steve Gedrose

 

“An Open Letter To Thelonious” is the new recording by the Ellis Marsalis Quartet.  The group consists of Ellis Marsalis (piano), tenor and soprano saxophonist Derek Douget, bassist Jason Stewart, and drummer Jason Marsalis. The music was recorded in Marsalis’ hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana and is spiced appropriately.  Ellis Marsalis is the patriarch of a famous jazz family and four of his six sons, Branford, Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason, are well known to jazz fans. In his roles as an educator and a mentor, Ellis Marsalis also had a hand in shaping the careers of many jazz players from the New Orleans area. 

 

Marsalis mentions in his liner notes that he took some time to get inside of Thelonious Monk’s approach to playing and composing. He grew up listening to Bird, Dizzy, Miles and his favorite jazz pianist Oscar Peterson. When one listens to this fine CD, you are grateful that Marsalis persevered, so that he could pay tribute to and demonstrate respect for Monk’s unorthodox music. Due to Monk’s unique use of time and space, modern jazz players are often challenged by his music. Even though we may categorize Monk’s songs as jazz standards, they are anything but standard.  They contain odd harmonies and are rhythmically complex. They swing but in a manner that is different than typical standards.  This group finds that swing and delivers it in a very satisfying way.  The music is presented in a joyous and buoyant manner that celebrates Monk’s sly sense of humor. The way in which the CD’s tracks are programmed is impressive. Many tunes from the Monk canon are played in a medium swing tempo, derived from the Harlem stride piano players by whom he was influenced, early in his career. Too much repetition in the tempo can undermine the originality of these wonderful songs.  The Ellis Marsalis Quartet lifts the tempo, and varies the program, between swing and heartfelt ballads such as the first track, “Crepuscule with Nellie,” “Ruby My Dear,” and the poignant “Round Midnight,” which is presented as a moving, solo piano piece.

 

Jason Marsalis is especially effective in mining the oddities of Monk’s rhythmic concept.  In the liner notes Jason Marsalis notes, that rhythm is an often-overlooked aspect of Monk’s genius.  Saxophonist Derek Douget’s sound comes more from the Coltrane school, than from the acerbic tone which was so prevalent in the playing of long time Monk sideman Charlie Rouse. Douget has his own distinct voice and it is a welcome change to hear the soprano sax in the mix, something which was not employed in Monk’s own quartets.  Jason Stewart adds some cooking bass solos and ably supports the other soloists with his skipping lines.

 

Tribute albums can limit creativity, but the Ellis Marsalis Quartet respects these songs and brings them firmly into a more modern construct.  The Quartet’s readings demonstrate that these works are not museum pieces, but remain vibrant and alive. This is the essence of jazz, having a respect for tradition, while holding a view to finding something that is new and interesting, in the here and now. Mission accomplished.

 

 

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Reviewed September 2008

Steve Gedrose owned and operated Rose Music, a retail CD shop, in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, from 1997 to 2007.  He now acts as the camp coordinator for Yukon Summer Music Camp.  www.yukonmusiccamp.ca