You can hear how much fun the musicians had recording this. We’re damn lucky they made it for us.
Lamento Records
Christoph Grab – Saxophones; Lukas Thoeni – Trumpet; Andreas Tschopp – Trombone; Banz Oester – Bass; Pius Baschnagel – Drums
One of my favorite musicians is Thelonious Monk so I’m always interested in hearing tributes or interpretations of his music. I’m impressed with how good Christoph Grab’s ONENESS is.
You won’t hear “Monk’s Greatest Hits” on ONENESS. Grab used compositions that aren’t that well known. There are four songs that were only recorded once by Monk.
Monk played piano. Grab doesn’t use the harmony instrument. Along with his crack band Reflections, Grab used Monk as a template, added his own arrangements, and made the music his own.
‘Crepuscule with Nellie ’is probably the best known tune on ONENESS. Monk first recorded the ballad in 1957. His piano lines were jagged and he had a very different sense of timing. Grab doesn’t mess with the melody.
He does smooth out those jagged lines though. His oh-so-cool saxophone sounds like he’s backing up a curvaceous burlesque dancer. The rest of Grab’s quintet are terrific. The way Banz Oester’s bass pushes and pulls the time comes the closest to Monk’s penchant for quirkiness.
‘Who Knows ’from 1947 was fast and furious bebop. Grab used his three horn lineup to do what Monk did on piano. He slowed things down a little and smoothed out some of the rough edges. Still, it’s a great modern take on bebop.
Andreas Tschopp on trombone is marvelous. His tone is gorgeous and his solos range from beautifully straight ahead to sounding like he’s scat singing through his horn.
‘We See ’has some great call and response from everyone. The trombone’s down and dirty smears sound like they came out of a New Orlean’s second line. Lukas Thoeni’s trumpet is bright and resonant. I really like what Grab does on saxophone. And even though he’s leader the other horn players get equal solo time.
’Something In Blue ’was a solo piano 12-bar blues that Monk only recorded once. Reflection’s three horns help make this one of the best tunes on the album. The walking bass and drums cook things along nicely. Thoeni has the best solo. His phrasing, range, and articulation are a joy.
‘Ugly Beauty ’was Monk’s only composed waltz. You can hear shades of Ellington in Grab’s arrangement. Charlie Rouse was Monk’s sax man for many years. He was laidback and tended to play along with Monk’s piano, never really showing off. Grab’s horn is a lot more playful.
ONENESS shows off a closeness and togetherness that the band have probably found after so many live performances together. You can hear how much fun the musicians had recording this. We’re damn lucky they made it for us.
