Caravan – 1969
Thelonious Monk
Monk plays a Duke Ellington-associated standard
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In 1955, Thelonious Monk performed a full album of songs associated with Duke Ellington, an idea by producer Orrin Keepnews to help introduce the unique pianist-composer to a larger audience by featuring him playing more accessible music than his own songs.
14 years later for a concert in Berlin, Monk was persuaded to pay tribute to Duke Ellington’s 70th birthday by performing a set (that was fortunately filmed) of songs from Ellington’s repertoire.
On “Caravan,” which was actually composed by Ellington’s valve trombonist Juan Tizol, Thelonious Monk strides his way throughout the piece, in his own way.
-Scott Yanow
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