Aki Takase has recorded quite a few duets with reed players sinse this was put out back in the early nineties and most of them are quite satisfying. Blue Monk with David Murray is in that category as well.
From the first notes on, it's clear that Aki Takase has a great feel for Monk's music (partner Alex Schlippenbach shares her affinity). Takase's confident pianistics are outstanding throughout. Although just four of the ten numbers are from Thelonious' pen, the session itself is somehow permeated in Monk.
David Murray would seem to be a logical choice for a Charlie Rouse replacement, if Monk were alive today. He has always been a strong player with an infinite amount of energy and imagination. His musical contributions on numerous projects are always an added bonus. His tenor and bass clarinet work on this album are typical Murray, full of zest and spunk, probing, daring, and true to the roots melodic.
"Ellingtonia" with Murray on bass clarinet and Takase's old school finger popping is one of the highlights for these ears. "Body and Soul" is given a gut wrenching workout that doesn't break a sweat, but doesn't have to. The final-and longest-cut on the disc, a Murray original entitled "Ballad For The Blackman" is an emotional tour-de-force indicating that Murray's playing definetely is a continuance of the tenor tradition. The rest of the program is just as varied and interesting. - John C. Graham
Tracks
1. Blue monk (T. Monk)
2. Ask me now (T. Monk)
3. Presto V.H. (Aki Takase)
4. Body & soul (Johnny Green)
5. Ellingtonia (Aki Takase, David Murray)
6. Bright Mississippi (T. Monk)
7. Ba-lue bolivar ba-lues (T. Monk)
8. Mr. Jelly roll (Jelly Roll Morton)
9. Kaiso (Eiichi Hayashi)
10. Ballad for the Blackman (David Murray)
AKI TAKASE piano
DAVID MURRAY tenor sax & bass clarinet
Enja Records CD 7039 - 2