Discoveries: I miss the intensity​ of Monk @ 100. It concluded for me with the first set of Ravi Coltrane--a live first for me--backed by pianist Ethan Iverson & his super sidemen, drummer Victor Lewis & bassist David Williams. It was glorious work​ for them (especially Ravi) meeting the challenge of Monk tunes. I.e., "Skippy", the fast-paced stride number that's hard on piano & almost impossible on a horn.

This Week:

Sunday: ​ The fun starts in two hours at the Blue Note Grill in Durham, west across from the Durham Athletic Park when Ed Furtick hosts his third annual party for the Durham jazz community. It will have a rhythm section ready to lead a three-hour jazz jam, happening while we eat free snacks & drink free beer, wine, & soft drinks. Where else should we be today?

Monday-Friday:​ We have our choice of the usual suspects at the usual venues, aside from what I note here. Don't forget we have lotsa choices.

Tuesday:​ I'm afraid I'd rather hear my favorite local saxophonist, Stephen Riley, lead a quartet that includes his musically telepathic buddy, pianist Ernest Turner, at Sharp Nine 7p (not 8p​!). ​If you hear nothing else this week, this is it.

Thursday:​ The UNC jazz program presents a night of songbook standards played by a set of student small groups at Moeser Auditorium (aka Hill Hall) 7:30p. Should be fun.

​​Friday-Saturday:​ Scott Sawyer celebrates his 60th birthday with a trio Friday night & a quartet Saturday (3/4 of whom played in the fiery, intense Dave Finucane quartet a couple of months ago), both at 8p. Scott deserves birthday greetings.
​
Sunday:​ The Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble, et. al., play at the Cary Arts Center 4p.

​I'll add any recommendations later in the week as more November player/venue dates are posted.​

Discoveries:

1. Ernest Turner held his own playing with (inter)nationally known pianists at Monk @ 100:​​ I knew, I knew it, I knew it!

2. Ethan Iverson's web blog:​​ Iverson is co-curator of & performer this week in Duke's Monk @ 100. His blog--DO THE M@TH--has a great recounting of that event.

3. The WNCU jazz calendar is now 3 weeks behind:​ Don't now what's going on. I emailed them last week, with no reply yet. I do know that Aasim Inshirah, who announced the on-air calendar, is no longer on air. B. H. Hudson is now back, though.

4. ​Minor downside to Monk @ 100:​ I couldn't listen to other jazz yesterday. Checked the Sharp Nine Friday night group, Cowboys & Frenchmen, on YouTube, but found them too nice​ after the incredible edginess of Monk music. Nevertheless, I will keep testing myself.

This Week:​ There are three nights of saxophone quartets in Monk @ 100. I'll catch Ravi Coltrane Thursday night, but any remaining performances are worth taking in. Or, you can stay local with...

​--The NCJRO tonight at Sharp Nine 8p Tuesday, power & beauty.

​--Wednesday's Jazz At the Mary Lou 9:30  jazz jam. Ethan Iverson wrote quite positively in his blog about local players at the M@100 jam sessions. It's your turn to experience that.

​--NCCU jazz musicians/vocalists are at Durham's WD Hill Rec Center 5-7p Thursday.

​--Friday: Choose between the high energy saxophonist Brian Miller at the Beyu 7 & 9p &/or the mellow extravore Cowboys & Frenchmen at Sharp Nine 8p.

​--Saturday: Having finally worked through the M@100 curse, I'll see bassist Will Goble's quartet at Sharp Nine, in part because Ernest (I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!) Turner's playing with him--along with Kobie Watkins & UNC/G-based trumpeter Brandon Lee.

II. Ben Ratliff, Jason Moran, Ethan Iverson, & Kris Davis discuss Geri Allen's legacy:​ Geri Allen died too young this summer, before she could perform at Monk @ 100, now a jazz ancestor but not as well known one as she deserved. In addition to Jason Moran being articulate while in tears over that, this conversation featured cuts from early Allen playing that were a revelation to me, she doing both two-handed right-hand melody over extraordinary right-hand rhythm & a version of Monk's "Bemsha Swing" that transfixed me. Peak Experience #1!

​III. Jason Moran & Tyshawn Sorey play Monk:​ My expectations were incredibly high for this meeting of two MacArthur genius awards. They were overwhelmed like Outer Banks dunes in a northeaster. The storm metaphor is deserved. We were spun madly in place for a solid hour of play from one Monk tune to another, melding avant-garde improve & "straight-ahead" playing that wasn't in a straight line. "Wow" was the most spoken word in its wake.

​IV. Five pianists--Ethan I, Orrin Evans, Ernest Turner, Christ Pattishall, Jeb Patton--play 1/2 of Monk's compositions:​ Solo, duo, solo, duo, solo, duo, solo, duo, solo, duo--step by step with some magnificent playing they played unique versions of Monk from the most familiar & to least played. Drip, drip, drip, the music accumulated to a whole that matched Moran & Sorey.

​V. Gerald Clayton & Ben Wendel:​ They were only very, very good, as unique as the rest, living up to Aaron Greewald's promise of "Monk as you've never heard him." That was a mantra for everything I heard.

VI. The five pianists finish the job:​ More of the same, the "same" being something I'll never hear again.

P.S.​ If you want details of everything "Monk @ 100" go to ethaniverson.com, where his DO THE M@TH blogs tells you about all that's gone down, including sets lists, comments on the high quality local musicians at the jam sessions, & pix of all involved.