The first of two separate CDs from concerts done in Paris during the winter of 1964,
Monk's quartet with
Butch Warren (bass),
Ben Riley (drums) and
Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), showcases one standard and four of the pianist's originals. Only "Epistrophy," the closer, is in short form. Noticeable from the opening refrains of "Four in One" is
Rouse, bending notes, extrapolating and modifying the melody, challenging
Monk to do the same. The pianist then does a retort before laying completely out as
Rouse solos. The band follows the same easy swinging mid-tempo ritual for the next two pieces; "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" and "Straight, No Chaser," as tenor sax, piano, bass and drum solos line up before heading back to the melody. A stride-ish intro by
Monk sets up "Sentimental" and "Epistrophy," while solos are concise.
Riley, though, plays an almost three minute intro to "Well, You Needn't," and indulges in another lengthy solo later in the 12-minute number, with
Rouse surprisingly more in the background on the first refrain. It's during the five minute "Epistrophy" that we hear
Monk and
Rouse delving into some brief, witty call-and-response talkback. Considering the leader's well chronicled battle with mental illness during this time period, it might be said he laid back a lot during this set, practically restrained. Nonetheless, a well recorded and performed nearly 49 minutes from a fully relaxed and lubricated modern jazz machine.