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Comments

• [1] Tom Wayburn from Houston, Texas February 26, 2009 - 12:37AM

  This is the 50th anniversary of a concert by two very important musicians: Thelonius Monk and Hall Overton.

  During the summer of 1980 I was evicted from the third floor of 821 6th Avenue in New York City where I had been hosting jam sessions that were recorded using Neumann U-87 mikes and high-quality home-recording equipment. Among others the legendary pianist Chris Anderson and the great folk singer Karen Dalton were in frequent attendance. I believe we were the last musicians to play in the historical dwellings described so well by Sam Stephenson. It is odd that several years earlier I had assisted Eugene Smith when he moved out of the same space after being evicted. In 1973 I replaced Wayne Martens who operated a photo processing lab there between acting jobs.

  
  
• [2] Jake Tamarkin from Brooklyn February 26, 2009 - 08:35PM

  This concert is awesome! Thank you so much for broadcasting this historic event!

  
  
• [3] Steve Fairley from Los Angeles February 26, 2009 - 08:46PM

  I want to thank WNYC for broadcasting this recreation of the historic recording of Thelonius Monk's Town Hall session some 50 years ago. I have a cd of this and I'll be listening to it as soon as this broadcast is over. I'm so much digging this. Charles Tolliver and the other musicians are to be commemended for their outstanding musicianship and interpretations of Mr. Monk's compositions . Again, thanks for your recognition of this important and monumental event.

  
  
• [4] Tom Doyle from Roxbury CT February 26, 2009 - 08:50PM

  VERY disapointed in the Monk tribute at Town Hall. I can't believe they managed to mangle Monk and it took 12 years to do it. It was not a tribute, but an orchestration (not unlike MUSAK) of something that should have been left as it was - particularly if this was supposed to be a 'tribute'.

  
  
• [5] Thomas Jordan from Kingston, New York February 26, 2009 - 09:08PM

  I wish I was able to catch the show from the beginning. Just the same, thanks guys for broadcasting this historic concert. Sounds great!

  
  
• [6] Steve Fairley from Los Angeles February 26, 2009 - 09:09PM

  There's a little "faux pas" there in my commemt.

  There is a little "faux pas" in my commemts. Instead of "recreation" it should be "re-creation". It may indeed be recreation in a sense, but this event is on a much higher level.

  
  
• [7] Thorns Craven from Winston-Salem February 26, 2009 - 10:06PM

  Thank you for making this concert available. I remember buying the record when it came out and being overwhelmed with how the arrangements tracked the early trio recordings. I've always thought more could be done in this vein. Maybe this effort will inspire others to rework some of the great music of our time.

  The musicians on this date sounded terrific, and that second Little Rootie Tootie had all the energy of the first concert.

  Thanks again!

  
  
• [8] Richard Mitnick from Highland Park ,NJ February 26, 2009 - 10:32PM

  I was in the car, I was listening to the music of Thelonius Monk, yet I kept hearing Leonard Bernstein.

  Lenny knew how to listen

  
  
• [9] Richard Mitnick from Highland Park ,NJ February 27, 2009 - 08:50AM

  I cannot believe that in today's New York Times there is not one line about this concert.

  Somebody please give me a page number.

  
  
• [10] David Earl from Washington, DC February 27, 2009 - 09:18AM

  Could only find the intro to the show, no review: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/arts/music/22chin.html?scp=2&sq=monk&st=cse

  
  
• [11] David Earl from Washington, DC February 27, 2009 - 09:20AM

  Could only find the preview of the show, no review: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/arts/music/22chin.html?scp=2&sq=monk&st=cse

  
  
• [12] David Earl from Washington, DC February 27, 2009 - 09:20AM

  Could only find the preview of the show, no review: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/arts/music/22chin.html?scp=2&sq=monk&st=cse

  
  
• [13] Richard Cutler from New York, NY February 27, 2009 - 11:24AM

  Last night's concert was marvelous because it wasn't a duplication but more an emulation of the 1959 event. Charles Tolliver should be applauded for understanding that one can pay homage to the spirit of Monk through a personal lens. And if there has ever -ever- been a better performance of "In Walked Bud," I want to know about it. Stanley Cowell was just a magnificent choice for Monk's spot in the orchestra.

  
  
• [14] Ken from Charlottesville March 02, 2009 - 02:13PM

  Many thanks to WNYC for putting this show online. In 1986 the Chicago Jazz Fest featured a recreation of this concert. The Thelonious Monk Orchestra Reunion band was:

  Don Sickler, musical co-ordinator/ Hall Overton, arranger; Don Sickler, Tom Harrell, trumpets; Eddie Bert, trombone; Steve Lacy, Phil Woods, Charlie Rouse, Howard Johnson, saxophones; Mal Waldron, piano; Cecil McBee, bass; Ben Riley, drums.

  At least one commentator at the time thought they played better than the original unit.