11

Some of Monk’s compositions are very simple, meaning not difficult for a musician to play. However, the impact of these compositions is very profound (...) His rhythmic approach is unique. It might sound like he is having trouble keeping the time. “Time” describes the underlying pulse of the music, the pulse, the flow, the beat, the swing of the musical situation. Monk had great time. He always knew when it was swinging, and it was always vital to him that his group swung and swung hard. What sets Monk apart from most musicians is that he didn’t play the swing feel himself. The swing feeling had to be there in the group. When the group was really swinging, then Monk could get into his thing, which was to rhythmically react to the music in his own very personal, original way. But it always fits with his musical surroundings. The main point is: Don’t ever think Monk’s ‘time’ was bad. He was always in sync with the music, but his way.

Don Sickler, The Monk Sound, Magazine “DU”, 1994