Rhythm-A-Ning: Thelonious Monk is my favorite piano player. I also love his compositions. As a musician, artist and performer, he is one of the most eclectic, interesting entertaining humans ever.
His quartet with Frankie Dunlop on drums is my favorite Monk group. Frankie’s drum tuning and style are the perfect fit for the music of Monk.
When Monk’s band was swinging, Monk would go into his dance. His movement and steps have a syncopated, rhythmic stutter step.
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My arrangement of Monk’s tune, “Rhythm-A-Ning” transitions between 6/4 and 5/4. My arrangement’s rhythmic break between those two measures, are dedicated to the memory of Thelonious Monk’s rhythmic stutter dance
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