That's The Way I Feel Now - A Tribute To Thelonious Monk

Tracklist

01. Thelonious - Bruce Fowler
02. Little Rootie Tootie - Nrbq And The Whole Wheat Horns
03. Reflections - Steve Khan & Donald Fagen
04. Blue Monk - Dr. John
05. Ask Me Now - Steve Lacy & Charlie Rouse
06. Brillant Corners - Mark Bingham
07. Monk's Mood - Sharon Freeman
08. Pannonica - Barry Harris
09. Ba-Lue-Bolivar-Ba-Lues-Are - Was (Not Was)
10. Four in One - Todd Rundgren & Gary Windo
11. 'Round Midnight - Joe Jackson
12. Evidence - Steve Lacy & Elvin Jones
13. Work - Chris Spedding & Peter Frampton
14. Functional - Randy Weston
15. Misterioso - Carla Bley Band With Johnny Griffin
16. Bemsha Swing - Steve Lacy & Gil Evans

Two years after the death of pianist-composer Thelonious Monk, this very unusual and quite memorable double-LP tribute was put together. Producer Hal Willner's most successful project, the 23 interpretations of Monk originals all feature a different group of all-star players and stretch beyond jazz. Some of the performances are fairly straightforward while others are quite eccentric; certainly the crazy duet on "Four in One" by altoist Gary Windo and Todd Rundgren (on synthesizers and drum machines) and the version of "Shuffle Boil" featuring John Zorn on game calls (imitating the sound of ducks) are quite unique. There are many colorful moments throughout the project and the roster of musicians is remarkable: Bobby McFerrin with Bob Dorough, Peter Frampton, Joe Jackson, Steve Lacy, Dr. John, Gil Evans, Randy Weston, Roswell Rudd, Eugene Chadbourne and Shockabilly, the Fowler Brothers, NRBQ, Steve Khan, Carla Bley, Barry Harris, Was (Not Was) and many others. There is not a slow moment or uninteresting selection on this highly recommended set.