Alexander von Schlippenbach - Monk's Casino

2005 issue

Complete works of Thelonious Monk

Alexander von Schlippenbach: Piano Axel Dörner: Trumpet Rudi Mahall: Bass Clarinet Jan Roder: Bass Uli Jennessen: Drums

Compositions by Thelonious Monk Arranged by Alexander von Schlippenbach, Rudi Mahall, Axel Dörner Recorded June 19, 20, 2003 and February 24, 25, 2004 at «A-Trane», Berlin Engineer: Rainer Robben

Here is the first ever complete Monk oeuvre project, undertaken by pianist and composer Alexander Schlippenbach, himself no stranger to Monk's songbook. The oeuvre challenge was, to create arrangements of all Monk's compositions – sometimes elaborate and lengthy ones, sometimes quick and simple ones – that would allow a listener to experience the entirety of Monk's compositional accomplishment in a relatively singular timespan. But at the same time to refrain from becoming overly puristic or precious about it, not treating it as some museal mausoleum for the entombment and enshrinement of Monk's dead music, but retaining the liveness and the essentially subversive spark that makes Mr. Monk so beautiful.

John Corbett, Liner Notes

Monk's Casino is not an encyclopedic project, but an arrangement of the complete works of Thelonious Monk for live performance in one evening. At Monk's Casino, things often happen fast and sometimes get quite turbulent, too. Still, everything is well organized and, to that degree at least, under control. So here we go!

Alexander von Schlippenbach