[Dixielandjazz] Monk Plays OKOM

[Steve Barbone]

Marek posted about Thelonious Monk's "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" as being
OKOM. I agree.

And why not? After all, one of Monk's early, "mentors" was James P. Johnson
who lived around the corner from where Monk grew up. Much of what Monk does
relates directly to stride piano, (which OPINION got me into big trouble on
the DJML a few years ago). <grin>

But then, I knew Monk fairly well and he often spoke about James P. When
playing certain blues, he'd put in a stride left hand and would say with a
chuckle: "Sound just like James P don't I." I had a record of a 7 or so
minute blues he did in stride style, but gave it away about 40 years ago to
a young jazz wannabe. It was a hoot to listen to. Can't remember the name of
the blues but still hear that stride left hand in my memory banks.

Not convinced? See below OPINION about the short history of stride piano:

"Joplin¹s pianism gave direct rise to the piano style of one Ferdinand
Joseph Lamothe (ca. 1885/90-1941), AKA Jelly Roll Morton, who retained heavy
syncopation in his playing style, which Morton humbly considered jazz and
declared himself its father. Morton¹s piano style logically evolved into the
stride piano of James P. Johnson (1894-1955), Thomas Wright ³Fats² Waller
(1904-1943) and William Henry Joseph Bonaparte Bertholoff ³Willie the Lion²
Smith (1897-1973). This evolutionary stream of piano originality ended with
Thelonious Monk (1917-1982) who further transformed the stride style into
his own unique brand of jazz."

Source C. Michael Bailey Senior writer/reviewer for "All About Jazz"

Cheers,
Steve Barbone