[Dixielandjazz] Lightening Rods

Sun, 14 Jul 2002 14:41:53 EDT

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In a message dated 7/14/02 11:24:30 AM Central Daylight Time, 
barbonestreet@earthlink.net writes:

> Ron is also spot on about Monk. He is my personal favorite jazz
> musician, bar none. He is also a direct descendant of OKOMers James P.
> Johnson and Willie The Lion Smith in pianistic development. They were
> his neighbors in NYC and his earliest influences. As a musician, I might
> hear Monk differently than most folks, especially the influences that
> "stride" have on his music.

   To call Thelonius Monk a 'direct' descendent of James P Johnson and Willie 
'the Lion' Smith is definately stretching the word 'descendent.'  Monk is a 
very lame pianist next to James P and Willie, the Lion.  Monk couldn't begin 
to play either one's classic compositions. Most of his 'tunes' are infantile. 
 'Blue Monk' is nothing but a paraphrase on '"Mamie's blues."   Round 
MIdnight is the only good tune and that was in good part written by Cootie 
Williams.  

   INHO, Monk is very much overrated.

   Jim Beebe

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<HTML>In a message dated 7/14/02 11:24:30 AM Central Daylight Time, barbonestreet@earthlink.net writes: 
 
 
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Ron is also spot on about Monk. He is my personal favorite jazz 
musician, bar none. He is also a direct descendant of OKOMers James P. 
Johnson and Willie The Lion Smith in pianistic development. They were 
his neighbors in NYC and his earliest influences. As a musician, I might 
hear Monk differently than most folks, especially the influences that 
"stride" have on his music.</BLOCKQUOTE> 
 
&nbsp;&nbsp; To call Thelonius Monk a 'direct' descendent of James P Johnson and Willie 'the Lion' Smith is definately stretching the word 'descendent.'&nbsp; Monk is a very lame pianist next to James P and Willie, the Lion.&nbsp; Monk couldn't begin to play either one's classic compositions. Most of his 'tunes' are infantile.&nbsp; 'Blue Monk' is nothing but a paraphrase on '"Mamie's blues."&nbsp;&nbsp; Round MIdnight is the only good tune and that was in good part written by Cootie Williams.&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;&nbsp; INHO, Monk is very much overrated. 
 
&nbsp;&nbsp; Jim Beebe 
 
&nbsp;&nbsp; </HTML>

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