Thelonious Monk – Palo Alto (Vinyl LP)

Palo Alto, a previously unheard recording of a 1968 high school performance by jazz great Thelonius Monk, also marks his posthumous debut on the revered Impulse! label. The surprise set came about after 16-year-old high school student Danny Scher had a dream to invite the storied pianist and composer and his all-star quartet to perform a concert at his local high school in Palo Alto, California. Against a backdrop of racial tension and political volatility, the concert took place on October 27, 1968, and was recorded by the school’s janitor. The 47-minute album features Monk’s regular touring band of tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse, bassist Larry Gales and drummer Ben Riley. It also highlights his touring repertoire, which constituted his finest compositions. The vinyl LP also comes with two booklets and a poster.

The recording remained in the attic of Scher’s family home for many years, and after he contacted T.S. Monk with a view to its release, they chose Impulse! Records, label home of Thelonius’ longtime collaborator and fellow jazz staple John Coltrane. “The house that Trane built” was the perfect home for the new release, almost forty years after Monk’s death. Palo Alto is the first of a series of joint releases to come over the next five years from Impulse! Records in conjunction with the Monk estate’s Rhythm-A-Ning Entertainment, which is led by T.S. Monk who says: “That performance is the one of the best live recordings I’ve ever heard by Thelonious. I wasn’t even aware of my dad playing a high school gig, but he and the band were on it. When I first heard the tape, from the first measure, I knew my father was feeling really good.”

Musicians:
Thelonious Monk, piano
Charlie Rouse, tenor saxophone
Larry Gales, bass
Ben Riley, drums

1. Ruby, My Dear [Live]
2. Well, You Needn’t [Live]
3. Don’t Blame Me [Live]
4. Blue Monk [Live]
5. Epistrophy [Live]
6. I Love You Sweetheart Of All My Dreams [Live]