Thelonious Monk: I Should Care (1948)

Track

I Should Care

Artist

Thelonious Monk (piano)

CD

The Complete Blue Note Recordings (Blue Note 30363)

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Musicians:

Thelonious Monk (piano), Milt Jackson (vibes), John Simmons (bass), Kenny Hagood (vocals), Shadow Wilson (drums).

Composed by Sammy Cahn, Axel Stordahl & Paul Weston [nota bene: Weston and his wife, singer Jo Stafford, would shortly hereafter form the immortal comedy team of Jonathan & Darlene Edwards]

Recorded: New York, July 2, 1948

Rating: 62/100 (learn more)

At a historic session where he first recorded his stunning originals "Evidence," "Misterioso," "Epistrophy" and "I Mean You," Monk was asked to perform something, umm � recognizable. The hermetically self- contained pianist reacts like an exterminator faced with rampant infestation, transforming a harmless ditty from an MGM musical into obstreperous cacophony recalling composer Charles Ives's 1890s' polytonal experiments pitting two brass bands blaring opposing marches in a New England town square. They couldn't have been more at odds than Monk and his hapless vocalist. With bop's high priest dispensing such low comedy, could Jonathan & Darlene Edwards be far behind?

Reviewer: Alan Kurtz

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